Transcendence and Spirituality in Japanese Cinema: Framing Sacred Spaces

This book explores the representations of Shinto and Buddhist sacred space, spiritual symbols, and religious concepts in Japanese films aimed at general audiences in Japan and globally. It employs the concepts of ma, kū, mono no aware, and musubi to examine the dynamic, evolving nature of these ancient principles, offering fresh perspectives on Japanese aesthetics and the relationship between East Asian religions and the arts.

Format: Hardback
Length: 250 pages
Publication date: 14 November 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This captivating book delves into profound representations of Shinto and Buddhist sacred space, spiritual symbols, and religious concepts that are intricately woven into the secular framework of Japanese films aimed at audiences worldwide. These cinematic masterpieces, crafted by renowned directors Akira Kurosawa, Hayao Miyazaki, Hirokazu Kore-eda, and Makoto Shinkai, serve as expressions of and, potentially, catalysts for transcendence of various kinds, particularly during the Heisei era (1989–2019), when Japan faced severe economic hardships and devastating natural disasters. The book's approach to aesthetics and religion employs a multifaceted framework encompassing concepts such as ma (structuring intervals, liminal space-time), kū (emptiness, sky), mono no aware (compassionate sensibility, resigned sadness), and musubi (generative interconnection), exploring the dynamic and evolving nature of these ancient principles that transcend spirituality, aesthetics, and philosophy. This insightful work offers fresh perspectives to scholars and enthusiasts of Japanese cinema, religion, film, cinematic aesthetics, and the intricate relationship between East Asian religions and the arts, moving beyond conventional notions of transcendental style and essentialized approaches to the multifaceted richness of Japanese aesthetics.

Weight: 650g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367226282