Paper short abstract:

This paper will introduce the major theoretical trends which informed modern mythological studies in Japan. Contrasting comparative approaches with the sakuhin-ron approach, it will shed light on potencies and limitations of either approach and situate sakuhin-ron within an international context.

Paper long abstract:

Kōnoshi Takamitsu, one of the most influential proponents of sakuhin-ron, strongly criticized the allegedly universalistic comparative approaches which used to dominate the field of mythological studies in modern Japan. He opposed scholars like Ōbayashi Taryō or Yoshida Atsuhiko, who applied the methods they had learned during their long stays of study in Europe to the ancient Japanese texts, isolating individual motifs and juxtaposing them with similar motifs from other cultures. The meaning of individual myths, Kōnoshi argues, can only be understood within the specific worldview depicted by a given text. Instead of intercultural parallels, he emphasizes the differences between the structures and logics of the mythical plots in individual chronicles like the Kojiki and the Nihon shoki.

Whether Kōnoshi is aware of the fact or not, his sakuhin-ron approach is to a great extent congruent to the postmodernist emphasis on différance which came to dominate mythological studies on a global scale after the deconstruction of Mircea Eliade's universalistic interpretations. A new focus on cultural and historical context replaced the former universalistic assumptions and yielded many important insights. However, an overemphasis on cultural context involves the danger of cultural essentialism. In recent years, new scholarly initiatives are beginning to reverse this trend in international mythological studies. For instance, joint initiatives with natural scientists endeavour to place the formerly often highly speculative 'reconstructions' and 'transmission routes' of individual mythical motifs on a more solid scientific foundation. Since the majority of sakuhin-ron proponents seems to be remarkably disinterested in scholarly developments outside Japan, there is a real danger that experts on Japanese mythology will miss the opportunity to participate in the construction of new theoretical approaches to mythology which might overcome the one-sided emphasis on either similarities or differences.

This paper will offer an introduction to the major theoretical trends which informed modern mythological studies in Japan with a special emphasis on comparative approaches. Thereby it will situate the sakuhin-ron approach in an international perspective. Using the myth of Susanowo as an example, it will also shed light on potencies and limitations of comparative and sakuhin-ron approaches to the study of myth.