| Globalizing the Prehistory of Japan: Language, genes and civilisation Contributor(s): Kumar, Ann (Author) |
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ISBN: 0710313136 ISBN-13: 9780710313133 Publisher: Routledge OUR PRICE: $152.00 Product Type: Hardcover - Other Formats Published: October 2008 Annotation: This innovative work uses new evidence to challenge previously-held views on the prehistory and origins of Japanese society and identity. The changes in society in Japan between the Jomon and Yayoi cultures were unique, going far beyond those of the so-called Neolithic Revolution in other parts of the world. Uniquely, they included bronze and iron production, as well as a new architecture with symbolic significance, a new religion and a hierarchical society with an emperor at its head. The Yayoi period has been seen as the very beginning of Japanese civilization and identity. It has usually been thought that all the Yayoi innovations came from China and Korea, but this work uses new materials from diverse fields including rice genetics, DNA and historical linguistics to show that the major elements of Yayoi civilization actually came from the south. This is an important contribution to the prehistory of Japan and of South East Asia. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - History | Asia - Japan - Political Science - Social Science | Ethnic Studies - General |
| Dewey: 952.01 |
| LCCN: 2008023978 |
| Series: Japanese Studies |
| Physical Information: 0.56" H x 6.14" W x 9.21" (1.07 lbs) 210 pages |
| Themes: - Cultural Region - Asian - Cultural Region - Japanese |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: This iconoclastic work on the prehistory of Japan and of South East Asia challenges entrenched views on the origins of Japanese society and identity. The social changes that took place in Japan in the time-period when the Jomon culture was replaced by the Yayoi culture were of exceptional magnitude, going far beyond those of the so-called Neolithic Revolution in other parts of the world. They included not only a new way of life based on wet-rice agriculture but also the introduction of metalworking in both bronze and iron, and furthermore a new architecture functionally and ritually linked to rice cultivation, a new religion, and a hierarchical society characterized by a belief in the divinity of the ruler. Because of its immense and enduring impact the Yayoi period has generally been seen as the very foundation of Japanese civilization and identity. In contrast to the common assumption that all the Yayoi innovations came from China and Korea, this work combines exciting new scientific evidence from such different fields as rice genetics, DNA and historical linguistics to show that the major elements of Yayoi civilization actually came, not from the north, but from the south. |