Session 02—Tu, Aug 30: Uchi-soto I (purity)

Topics

❖ Some Shinto basics (some fundamental concepts, a little history)
❖ Introducing the concept of uchi-soto (inner-outer) with emphasis on defining inner spaces and the purification of those spaces

Thoughts—read before class, revisit for tests

Please take a look at the outline. For now anyway, most thoughts are there. Also, if I have time, I will come back to this section and rewrite if after lecture.

Term mentioned today that have definitions on this site: dohyo, roji, Sen Rikyu, uchi-soto

Required—to be completed for today's session

Read in the order below, please.

✓ Read in full About Readings [on site, HTML] so you know how I expect you to approach the texts assigned.

✓ Read in full: Shinto comments by Kasulis [bSpace, PDF]. The initial part of the selection, on rice, can be skimmed. The primary material are the basic elements of Shinto that Kasulis proposes. This is an interesting work in that it is written from "inside" the religion, so to speak, rather than strictly as an academic object of analysis.

✓ Read in full: Norito Great Purification at Sixth Month's End. [bSpace, PDF] Norito are explained on the terms list. While I would like you to read the norito in full, to get a sense of Norito, it is assigned at this point to support the next reading selection and, for that, please look closely at the "sins" and think of what a "sin" / "pollution" is.

✓ Read in full: Kojiki I.16 Susano-o rages. [bSpace, PDF] Remember to read the footnotes that are side-barred. The Japanese is provided but of course not required.

✓ Two PPTs are presented. It is not especially necessary to view these ahead of the session, but you should review them later, to help formulate ideas on how uchi-soto can be used interpretively in multiple situations. They are: Reading the Kojiki [bSpace, PPT] and Uchi-soto inner spaces and purity [bSpace, PPT].

Multimedia notes (to be completed after lecture)

❖ Presented: Uchi-soto inner spaces and purity [bSpace, PPT]
◊ Presented: Reading the Kojiki [bSpace, PPT]

Links

⇢ I have collected a few books on aspects of the Nara period that I think are especially interesting. You can find them in this folder: (Wallace's) Books of Note: Nara period