Monsters: A History of Japan

Catalog description

To truly understand a society, study what it fears. Myths legitimize rule, monsters model undesirable behavior, heroes teach moral lessons, and legends reconstruct history. This course will trace how folklore, supernatural creatures, and the “uncanny” played a role in molding Japanese societal structures from the beginning of written history through to the eve of Japan’s modern period. Learn about the real-world events that shaped or were shaped by these monster stories while gaining competency in Japanese history and the ideologies that underwrite them from Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, and Shintoism. No previous knowledge of Japanese history or culture required.