Before the westernisation of Japan; mythological events were treated as national history. Two key documents have contributed to this history; both written over 1300 years ago: 'Kojiki'; the Tale of Old Age; and 'Nihonshoki'; the Chronicle of Japanese History. Both the Imperial Court and the general public searched for the origin of their identity in these documents; which took on the central and sacred role of scripture. Through the act of commentary and interpretation; the sacred books connected interpreters to their historical origins; authenticating where they came from; the emergence of the Japanese archipelago; and the uniqueness of the Japanese people. 'Japanese Mythology' explores the nation's attraction to this act of historical grounding and the varying identities that emerged during different historical periods. The study reveals that; rather than having any clear and unified substance; Japanese mythology has always been the result of a nostalgic desire to retrieve historical origins.
#4152592 in Books Pen and Sword 2007-07-01 2007-07-15Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.45 x .93 x 6.40l; 1.21 #File Name: 1844152499224 pages
Review
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Compare and Contrast...By HMS WarspiteAndrew Uffindell's "Waterloo Commanders" is a new entry into a crowded field of books about the Battle of Waterloo. His approach is to compare and contrast the three principal commanders at Waterloo: Napoleon of France; Wellington of Great Britain; and Blutcher of Prussia. Their clash of arms over 15-18 June 1815 remains one of the most dramatic military events in modern Western History.The basic facts of the professional lives of Napoleon and Wellington are well known; Uffindel moves briskly through their narratives. Blutcher has gotten rather less attention than his British ally or his French opponent; his long and varied career in uniform will be of interest to many readers. Uffindell's account of the Battle of Waterloo itself is concise and reasonably even-handed with respect to each leader. He touches briefly on the lives of the three men after Waterloo: Napoleon to bitter exile on St. Helena; Wellington to a long career in British politics; and Blutcher to an all too-brief retirement.The real payoff of the book may be Uffindell's concluding effort to assess the respective personalities; styles of leadership; methods of comand and control; and expertise at strategy and tactics of the three men. His discussion is closely-reasoned; nuanced; and concise; the reader need not agree with Uffindell's conclusions to appreciate the analysis.Uffindell is no slave to anyone's legend. Battlefield failures share space with successes. He notes how just how close to defeat Napoleon was in famous victories such as the Battle of Marengo. His harsh assessement that Wellington was not an innovator in infantry tactics is probably technically accurate; if less relevant than his consistent success in execution. Blutcher's history of alcoholism and mental disorder make his successful leadership all the more remarkable."Waterloo Commanders" is well recommended to the general reader seeking an above average survey-level history. The experienced student of the Napoleonic Wars may find less in this book that constitutes new or different material. The book includes a collection of easy-to-understand maps and a small but well-chosen selection of illustrations.
