Shinobu Orikuchi
Encyclopedia
, also known as , was a Japanese
ethnologist, linguist
, folklorist, novelist, and poet
. As a disciple of Kunio Yanagita
, he established an original academic field named , which is a mixture of Japanese folklore, Japanese classics, and Shintō
. He produced many works in a diversity of fields covering the history of literature, folkloric performing arts, folklore itself, Japanese language
, the classics study, Shintōology, ancient study, and so on. Yukio Mishima
once called him the "Japanese Walter Pater
".
(now part of Naniwa-ku, Osaka
). After graduating with a degree in Japanese literature
from Kokugakuin University
in 1910, he started to teach Japanese
and Chinese classics at junior high schools. In 1919, he became employed as a part-time instructor in Kokugakuin University. In 1922, he was promoted to the professor there. In 1924, he was hired as a professor in Keio University
as well, since then, he taught at two different universities until he died. As a poet, he and Kitahara Hakushu
established a tanka magazine called Nikkō ("Sunshine") in 1924. In 1925, he published , his first tanka book, which is highly estimated.
In 1934, he took a Ph.D.
for his study on Man'yōshū. He also established the .
As a folklorist, Yanagita was known for rejecting every sexual subject; Orikuchi, in contrast, was very open-minded to these matters. He became a model for the protagonist in Mishima's short story , while his novel Shisha no Sho was basis for a film
by Kihachiro Kawamoto
.
review
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
ethnologist, linguist
Linguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. Linguistics can be broadly broken into three categories or subfields of study: language form, language meaning, and language in context....
, folklorist, novelist, and poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
. As a disciple of Kunio Yanagita
Kunio Yanagita
was a Japanese scholar who is often known as the father of Japanese native folkloristics, or minzokugaku.He was born in Fukusaki, Hyōgo Prefecture. After graduating with a degree in law from Tokyo Imperial University, he became employed as a bureaucrat in the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce...
, he established an original academic field named , which is a mixture of Japanese folklore, Japanese classics, and Shintō
Shinto
or Shintoism, also kami-no-michi, is the indigenous spirituality of Japan and the Japanese people. It is a set of practices, to be carried out diligently, to establish a connection between present day Japan and its ancient past. Shinto practices were first recorded and codified in the written...
. He produced many works in a diversity of fields covering the history of literature, folkloric performing arts, folklore itself, Japanese language
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
, the classics study, Shintōology, ancient study, and so on. Yukio Mishima
Yukio Mishima
was the pen name of , a Japanese author, poet, playwright, actor and film director, also remembered for his ritual suicide by seppuku after a failed coup d'état...
once called him the "Japanese Walter Pater
Walter Pater
Walter Horatio Pater was an English essayist, critic of art and literature, and writer of fiction.-Early life:...
".
Biography
Orikuchi was born in the former Nishinari, ŌsakaOsaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
(now part of Naniwa-ku, Osaka
Naniwa-ku, Osaka
is one of 24 wards of Osaka City, Japan. It has an area of 4.37 km², and a population of 51,567.- General information :Largely a residential area itself, Naniwa-ku is adjacent to and has in recent years blurred into the Namba district, which is south Osaka City's transport hub and centre of...
). After graduating with a degree in Japanese literature
Japanese literature
Early works of Japanese literature were heavily influenced by cultural contact with China and Chinese literature, often written in Classical Chinese. Indian literature also had an influence through the diffusion of Buddhism in Japan...
from Kokugakuin University
Kokugakuin University
Kokugakuin University is a private university, whose main office is located in Tokyo's Shibuya district...
in 1910, he started to teach Japanese
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
and Chinese classics at junior high schools. In 1919, he became employed as a part-time instructor in Kokugakuin University. In 1922, he was promoted to the professor there. In 1924, he was hired as a professor in Keio University
Keio University
,abbreviated as Keio or Keidai , is a Japanese university located in Minato, Tokyo. It is known as the oldest institute of higher education in Japan. Founder Fukuzawa Yukichi originally established it as a school for Western studies in 1858 in Edo . It has eleven campuses in Tokyo and Kanagawa...
as well, since then, he taught at two different universities until he died. As a poet, he and Kitahara Hakushu
Kitahara Hakushu
is the pen-name of ', a Japanese tanka poet active during the Taishō and Shōwa periods of Japan. He is regarded as one of the most popular and important poets in modern Japanese literature.-Early life:...
established a tanka magazine called Nikkō ("Sunshine") in 1924. In 1925, he published , his first tanka book, which is highly estimated.
In 1934, he took a Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
for his study on Man'yōshū. He also established the .
As a folklorist, Yanagita was known for rejecting every sexual subject; Orikuchi, in contrast, was very open-minded to these matters. He became a model for the protagonist in Mishima's short story , while his novel Shisha no Sho was basis for a film
The Book of the Dead (film)
is a 2005 Japanese stop motion animation feature film directed by Kihachirō Kawamoto. It is his second feature film, the first being the Rennyo and His Mother and is based on the novel of the same name by Shinobu Orikuchi...
by Kihachiro Kawamoto
Kihachiro Kawamoto
was a Japanese puppet designer and maker, independent film director, screenwriter and animator and president of the Japan Animation Association from 1989, succeeding founder Osamu Tezuka, until his own death...
.
Major works
– Tanka book – Tanka book – Novel – Treatise on folklore and literature in ancient Japan – KabukiKabuki
is classical Japanese dance-drama. Kabuki theatre is known for the stylization of its drama and for the elaborate make-up worn by some of its performers.The individual kanji characters, from left to right, mean sing , dance , and skill...
review
Sources
- 加藤守雄『わが師折口信夫』朝日新聞社(1967)
- 諏訪春雄『折口信夫を読み直す』講談社現代新書(1994)
- 山折哲雄、穂積生萩『執深くあれ 折口信夫のエロス』小学館(1997)
- 富岡多恵子『釈迢空ノート』岩波書店(2000)
- 安藤礼二『神々の闘争 折口信夫論』講談社(2004)