Imagining Religion in Japan: Transformations of the Category of 'Religion' in the Japanese Context

HAVLÍČEK, Jakub. Imagining Religion in Japan: Transformations of the Category of 'Religion' in the Japanese Context. In Kemeneva, S. P., Pakhomov, S. V. Seventh International Conference on Oriental Studies (Torchinov Readings): Metamorphoses, June 22 - 25, 2011, Part II. St. Petersburg: Saint-Petersburg State University, Faculty of Philosophy, Department of Eastern Philosophy and Cultural Studies. Institute of Oriental Manuscripts. Saint-Petersburg Philosophical Society, 2013, p. 143-150. ISSN 2306-8183.

Basic information

Original name

Imagining Religion in Japan: Transformations of the Category of 'Religion' in the Japanese Context

Name in Czech

Představy o náboženství v Japonsku: proměny kategorie "náboženství" v japonském kontextu

Name (in English)

Imagining Religion in Japan: Transformations of the Category of 'Religion' in the Japanese Context

Authors

HAVLÍČEK, Jakub

Edition

St. Petersburg, Seventh International Conference on Oriental Studies (Torchinov Readings): Metamorphoses, June 22 - 25, 2011, Part II, p. 143-150, 8 pp. 2013

Publisher

Saint-Petersburg State University, Faculty of Philosophy, Department of Eastern Philosophy and Cultural Studies. Institute of Oriental Manuscripts. Saint-Petersburg Philosophical Society

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Other information

Type of outcome

Stať ve sborníku

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

ISSN

Keywords (in Czech)

religionistika, náboženství v Japonsku, náboženství, Japonsko, koncept náboženství

Keywords in English

Study of religions; religions in Japan; religion; Japan; concept of religion

Tags

International impact, Reviewed

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Abstract

V originále

The paper deals with the notion of "religion" in the context of Japan. The social sciences need general terms and concepts and the term "religion" is a generic term applied in the study of culture and in the academic study of religion under severe theoretical and methodological precautions. Without a doubt, the emic perspective constitutes an important element in studying a foreign culture, but it would be incorrect to consider it the very basis of the scholarly approach to a foreign culture. It is obvious that the perspective of the academic study of religions, of sociology or anthropology comes from the "Western" environment, but it is adopted in and it interacts with the non-Western environment. From this point of view, the general concept of "religion" should be maintained for the purpose of studying Japanese culture. It helps us to delimitate the field of our interest in order to better understand the phenomena we are about to encounter.

In Czech

Článek se zabývá pojmem "náboženství" v kontextu Japonska. Společenské vědy potřebují obecné pojmy a koncepty a pojem "náboženství" je obecným pojmem, který se používá při studiu kultury a při akademickém studiu náboženství za přísných teoretických a metodologických opatření. Emická perspektiva bezpochyby představuje důležitý prvek při studiu cizí kultury, ale bylo by nesprávné považovat ji za samotný základ vědeckého přístupu k cizí kultuře. Je zřejmé, že perspektiva akademického studia náboženství, sociologie či antropologie vychází ze "západního" prostředí, ale je přejímána v nezápadním prostředí a je s ním v interakci. Z tohoto hlediska je třeba pro účely studia japonské kultury zachovat obecný pojem "náboženství". Pomáhá nám vymezit oblast našeho zájmu, abychom lépe porozuměli jevům, s nimiž se budeme setkávat v japonském kontextu.

In English

The paper deals with the notion of "religion" in the context of Japan. The social sciences need general terms and concepts and the term "religion" is a generic term applied in the study of culture and in the academic study of religion under severe theoretical and methodological precautions. Without a doubt, the emic perspective constitutes an important element in studying a foreign culture, but it would be incorrect to consider it the very basis of the scholarly approach to a foreign culture. It is obvious that the perspective of the academic study of religions, of sociology or anthropology comes from the "Western" environment, but it is adopted in and it interacts with the non-Western environment. From this point of view, the general concept of "religion" should be maintained for the purpose of studying Japanese culture. It helps us to delimitate the field of our interest in order to better understand the phenomena we are about to encounter.