Japanese Culture - by Roger J Davies (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Japanese Culture: The Religious and Philosophical Foundations takes readers on a thoroughly researched and remarkably readable journey through Japan's cultural history.

This much-anticipated sequel to Roger Davies's best-selling The Japanese Mind provides a comprehensive overview of the religion and philosophy of Japan. This cultural history of Japan explains the diverse cultural traditions that underlie modern Japan and offers readers real insights into Japanese manners and etiquette.

Davies begins with an investigation of the origins of the Japanese, followed by an analysis of the most relevant approaches used by scholars to describe the essential elements of Japanese culture. From there, each chapter focuses on one of the formative aspects: Shintoism, Buddhism, Taoism, Zen, Confucianism, and Western influences in the modern era.

Each chapter is concluded with extensive endnotes along with thought-provoking discussion activities, making this volume ideal for individual readers and classroom instruction. Anyone interested in pursuing a deeper understanding of this complex and fascinating nation will find Davies's work an invaluable resource.

Review Quotes

"In this clear and concise guide, Davies explains the key religious traditions that influence life in modern Japan." --Publishers Weekly

"Japanese Culture is an in-depth introduction to different aspects and influences that make Japan the unique world it is. From its history, its isolation, and its aesthetics to the influence of the Chinese, the West, and beyond, this book won't make you an expert, but it will give you a solid foundation of knowledge to build upon...With numerous thought-provoking questions to discuss and appendices loaded with additional information, Japanese Culture is both an accessible, erudite guidebook and a launching pad to greater, more enriching studying to come." --Manhattan Book Review

"Roger J. Davies has written a well-needed summing up of the philosophical underpinnings of Japanese culture. A well-rounded, succinct, and thought-provoking analysis that everyone in the Japan field can benefit from." --Alex Kerr, author of Lost Japan and Dogs and Demons; Winner of Japan's prestigious Shincho Gakugei Literature Prize

"This is definitely a book you need to pick up if you want to learn more about Japanese culture and would like more of an understanding of what influenced it." --JLPT Boot Camp blog

"With his balanced air and refusal to indulge in glib theories, Roger Davies has produced a book that helps enormously in the demystifying of Japan." --Green Shinto blog

About the Author

Roger J. Davies is a committed advocate of lifelong learning with degrees in Linguistics (M.A. Ph.D.) and Business Administration (MBA) from universities in Canada, Great Britain, and the United States. He has taught courses in business management, intercultural communication, and Japanese culture at both postgraduate and undergraduate levels at some of Japan's leading schools, including Hitotsubashi University, The University of Tokyo, and Waseda University. He is also the lead editor of bestselling, The Japanese Mind: Understanding Contemporary Japanese Culture.