Persisting people
This is something sparking my mind after reading an article (M. Donovan, "Touching Buddha", The Japan Journal, Vol. 1, No 9, Jan 2005).
The article is about the people and their resistance against changes. It says that even in Japan, as a non-religious country, there are many superstitions: Good or bad numbers, Shrines and temples dedicated to different activities such as health, wealth, happiness, fishing, teeth, childbearing, studying,...Some temples even have changed their field of activity.
Japanese, according to the author, are deeply superstitious. For instance, children are threatened for the uneaten food with the ghost of wastefulness, and more interestingly, people will turn to a cow if they sleep immediately after eating.
To the author, the origins could be partly scientific, mostly wishful thinking, or quite contrary to expectations. To me, however, some other reasons should be added but the question still remains: If the superstitions are dangerous, why the people still believe in them? Or maybe they are good in some aspects?
The article is about the people and their resistance against changes. It says that even in Japan, as a non-religious country, there are many superstitions: Good or bad numbers, Shrines and temples dedicated to different activities such as health, wealth, happiness, fishing, teeth, childbearing, studying,...Some temples even have changed their field of activity.
Japanese, according to the author, are deeply superstitious. For instance, children are threatened for the uneaten food with the ghost of wastefulness, and more interestingly, people will turn to a cow if they sleep immediately after eating.
To the author, the origins could be partly scientific, mostly wishful thinking, or quite contrary to expectations. To me, however, some other reasons should be added but the question still remains: If the superstitions are dangerous, why the people still believe in them? Or maybe they are good in some aspects?
posted by Cyrus at
6:25 PM
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