The rat snake (aodaishō, Elaphe climacophora) by far Japan’s most ubiquitous snake, is frequently found inside farm houses and roofs and is widely considered to be a guardian deity of rice. Mountain landslides are referred to as ja-nuke (serpent breakouts). In medieval legends, women transform into terrifying snake-serpents. What is the relationship among these different snakes and serpents? What is their connection to the water and mountains? This talk examines both the “natural”—snakes, foxes, mountains, rivers, tall trees—and the “supernatural”—serpents, demons, ghosts, and tengu—as key parts of the “eco-social imaginary,” a way of living and seeing that binds the community with its physical environment. The “social” here is not just humans but the larger community of animals, reptiles, birds, trees, and the surrounding mountains, often treated as earth beings. The presentation provides a sweep of Japanese history, over which these relationships and practices emerged and changed, highlighting major shifts with a focus on the issue of “broken reciprocity.”

Reischauer Institute Japan Forum