検索キーワード： 慣習・伝統

Monsters, spirits, fantastic beings, and supernatural creatures haunt the folklore and popular culture of Japan. Broadly labeled yōkai, they appear in many forms, from tengu mountain goblins and kappa water sprites, to shape-shifting kitsune foxes and long-tongued ceiling-lickers. Popular today in anime, manga, film, and video games, many yōkai originated in local legends, folktales, and regional ghost stories. The Book of Yōkai invites listeners to examine how people create, transmit, and collect folklore, and how they make sense of the mysteries in the world around them.

A groundbreaking and seminal chronicle of the hidden history and mythology of female dragon slayers from ancient world expert and author of Goddess with a Thousand Faces Jasmine Elmer. The dragon is a monster with a rich history of symbolism in almost every culture. In the stories that have been...

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER In his travels through Israel and Gaza, #1 International Bestselling author Douglas Murray has seen the best and the worst humanity has to offer, and he has no trouble choosing a side. Murray is not Jewish and before October 7, he had never lived in Israel...

The figure of Tammuz represents one of the most enduring and complex archetypes in the history of Near Eastern religion. While often reduced to a simple god of vegetation or a tragic lover, his character is a composite of centuries of cultural shifts, theological debates, and linguistic evolutions. To under-stand Tammuz, one must first look to the ancient Sumerian deity Dumuzid, the Shepherd. In the arid landscapes of Mesopotamia, the cycle of life and death was not merely a philosophical concept but a visceral reality dictated by the seasonal flooding of the Tigris and Euphrates.

The unicorn remains one of the most persistent and versatile symbols in the history of human imagination. Unlike many mythical creatures that originated as composite monsters intended to inspire terror, the unicorn emerged primarily as a biological curiosity. For millennia, it was treated not as a product of fantasy, but as a legitimate, albeit rare, member of the animal kingdom. This creature has bridged the gap between ancient natural history, medieval theology, and modern folklore, adapting its meaning to fit the cultural needs of every era it inhabited.

The symbol of a winged staff entwined by two serpents, known as the caduceus, remains one of the most enduring icons in Western civilization. often associated with the Greek god Hermes, this artifact serves as a bridge between the mortal and divine realms; it is a tool of negotiation, a conductor of souls, and a emblem of transformative power. While frequently confused with the Rod of Asclepius in modern medical contexts, the caduceus possesses a distinct and multifaceted history that predates the classical Hellenic era.

The name "Moloch" resonates through history with a chilling association; it is a name synonymous with the most extreme forms of religious fanaticism, specifically the practice of child sacrifice. Mentioned in the Bible and referenced in various historical texts, Moloch has become a potent symbol of evil, a deity demanding the ultimate price for favor. The history of this figure is complex, shrouded in the mists of antiquity and open to varied interpretations by scholars, historians, and theologians alike.

Discover everything you’ve ever wondered about the legendary spirits, creatures, and figures of Japanese folklore including how they have found their way into every corner of our pop culture from the creator of the podcast Uncanny Japan. Welcome to The Book of Japanese Folklore: a fascinating...

Asesinatos, incestos, venganzas, héroes, historias de amor y lujuria. La mitología griega es un auténtico crisol de los vicios y las virtudes del ser humano. Los mitos en la antigua Grecia tenían una función social, relataban comportamientos de dioses y héroes y enseñaban a los hombres cómo debían actuar ante determinadas situaciones, como las vidas de los santos en el cristianismo, relataban comportamientos virtuosos y ejemplares, los dioses griegos eran virtuosos, pero no ejemplares.

Descubra la vida cotidiana y la cultura de los Vikingos y adéntrese en el impresionante mundo de las divinidades, criaturas, mitos y leyendas de este gran pueblo de exploradores: Odín, Thor, Loki, Baldr, Niörd, desde el Ginnungagap hasta la batalla final de Ragnarök. Una visión contextualizada y rigurosa del fantástico cosmos mitológico nórdico.

The observance of Easter represents one of the most complex historical tapestries in the western world. It is not merely a singular religious holiday; rather, it is a confluence of astronomical phenomena, ancient agrarian rites, and foundational theological shifts. To understand Easter, one must first look toward the vernal equinox. For millennia, the arrival of spring served as a pivot point for human civilization; it signaled the return of life to the frozen earth and the promise of future harvests.

Valentine's Day, a festival of romance, love, and affection, is celebrated annually on February 14th; however, the holiday's origins are far less romantic than the modern iteration suggests. Its history is a complex tapestry woven from disparate threads of ancient Roman festivals, early Christian martyrdom, and medieval literary tradition. The journey of February 14th from a pagan fertility rite to a global commercial phenomenon is a fascinating narrative spanning millennia and continents.

The concept of the Satyr represents one of the most enduring and multifaceted archetypes in the history of human mythology. Emerging from the rugged, untamed landscapes of ancient Greece, these hybrid beings have occupied the peripheral spaces of the human imagination for millennia.

The figure of Lilith remains one of the most enduring and complex entities in the history of human mythology; she is a shadow that has haunted the periphery of theology, folklore, and literature for over four millennia. To understand Lilith is to look into a mirror that reflects the changing fears and aspirations of the cultures that birthed her. She does not emerge from history as a singular, static character, but rather as a linguistic and spiritual evolution, a "screech owl" in the desert, a child-stealing demon in a Babylonian incantation, and eventually, the defiant first wife of Adam.

The figure of Artemis remains one of the most complex and enduring archetypes in human history; she represents the untamed wilderness, the transition of youth, and the paradox of a protector who is also a predator. To understand Artemis is to look beyond the popular image of the Greek huntress with a silver bow. Her history begins in the misty pre-Hellenic eras of the Bronze Age, where she likely originated as a powerful local deity in Anatolia or Crete.

Thor, Odin, Loki, Freyja, the Valkyries, Valhalla, Ragnarok — many of the places we encounter these and other names, places, and events from Norse mythology in daily life and pop culture are connected to the medieval sources in name only.

An Instant New York Times Bestseller! China has concentration camps now. Why do Westerners claim our sins are unique? It is now in vogue to celebrate non-Western cultures and disparage Western ones. Some of this is a much-needed reckoning, but much of it fatally undermines the very things that...

Chosen by Nelson Mandela, this extraordinary story features celebrity narration and celebrates the rich oral tradition of African folktalkes. Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales is an extraordinary audiobook featuring Gillian Anderson, Benjamin Bratt, LeVar Burton, Ricardo Chavira, Don...

Il Giappone è il paese degli opposti: tradizione e modernità, spiritualità e tecnologia convivono fianco a fianco dando origine a una speciale alchimia. Il fascino che il paese del Sol levante esercita sui visitatori è quello di un luogo privo di una specifica collocazione, situato in un tempo e in uno spazio quasi magici, slegati da tutto il resto del mondo. Gli scenari del Giappone appaiono come livelli di un videogioco: gli enormi schermi e i vestiti gotici delle ragazze; le torri futuristiche e i bar con karaoke; i boschetti di bamboo e le cime ghiacciate.

Superstition: A Very Short Introduction explores the nature and history of superstition from antiquity to the present. For two millennia, superstition was a label derisively applied to foreign religions and unacceptable religious practices, and its primary purpose was used to separate groups and assert religious and social authority. After the Enlightenment, the superstition label was still used to define groups, but the new dividing line was between reason and unreason. Today, superstitious belief and behavior remain widespread, and highly educated people are not immune.