Performance in Pre-Modern Japanese Religions

Dear Colleagues,

Over the past few decades, scholars of pre-modern Japanese religions have delved into the multiplicity of pre-modern Japanese religious traditions, blending fields, content, materials, and approaches. Rather than focusing on specific doctrines or patriarchs, current trends emphasize the evolution of Japan’s religious traditions in their broader historical contexts. Gradually, the text-only approach that was typical for older scholarship has been enhanced by methodologies that incorporate, among others, doctrine, art, gender perspectives, and ritual variety. This interdisciplinary approach has resulted in a richer appreciation for the cultural complexities that influence the development of Japanese religions and the objects used to create and function within these religious spaces.

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to the Special Issue entitled “Performance in pre-modern Japanese Religions.” This Special Issue’s focus is on the various performative dimensions of pre-modern Japanese religions, from approximately the early Nara (710-794) to Muromachi (1336-1573) periods. “Performative” here concerns material, visual, literary, and musical dimensions of religious practice; this approach allows for an interdisciplinary consideration of Japan’s rich religious history.

As such, this Special Issue aims to address particular aspects of kami worship, Buddhist teachings, Onmyōdō, Shugendō, and other religious practices that were reenacted in ritual settings through mediums such as dance, music, visual arts, and poetry. In addition, we would like to explore the ritual dimension of craftsmanship (for example, the process of sculpture), writing, and poetic composition. Such an approach to the performative side of pre-modern Japanese religion can allow the reader to explore the ways these traditions were lived and experienced by people in a pre-modern context. 

We invite submissions that explore this performative aspect of pre-modern Japanese religions. We particularly welcome contributions that go beyond the traditional distinctions between Japan’s religions and address the topic from an interdisciplinary angle. 

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following areas:

       Japanese religions;
       History of Japanese religion and art;
       Ritual studies.

Prior to submitting a manuscript, we ask interested authors to initially submit a proposed title and an abstract of 200-300 words, summarizing their intended contribution. Please send it to one of the guest editors or the Assistant Editor of Religions. Abstracts will be reviewed by the guest editors for the purposes of ensuring proper fit within the scope of the Special Issue. Full manuscripts will undergo double-blind peer review.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Mikael Bauer
Dr. Abigail MacBain
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Religions is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• Onmyōdō
• kami
• Buddhism
• material culture
• visual arts
• performing arts
• music
• hymns
• Bonmyō
• poetry
• rongi
• gagaku
• dance
• sculpture