Skip to content

Social Context of the fujo: Shamanism in Japan through a Female Perspective

Iva Lakić Parać

Asian Studies July 24, 2015 DOI: 10.4312/as.2015.3.1.154-170 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed
Topics Shamanism
Citations 2
Key points Argues that women have been central to shamanistic practice in Japan since ancient times and asks whether shamanism functioned as a tool through which women gained recognition for a measure of authority and power, potentially influencing their marginal social position; seeks to identify forms shamanism took as it adapted to cultural and social frameworks.

Abstract

This study deals with the phenomenon of shamanism in Japan with the emphasis on the female perspective and the fact that women, in the first place, have dealt with shamanistic practices in Japan since ancient times. Could we say that shamanism was a tool that women used in order to have a small part of their authority and power acknowledged? Have they managed to influence their marginal position in society and in what way? Considering the phenomenon from the historical perspective, we will try to individualize some forms in which shamanism in Japan adjusted to the given cultural and social frameworks.

Comparable studies

Other theoretical and historical papers on shamanism, most cited first.

Explore topics