A brief history of Christianity in Japan—Between one and four percent of Japanese are Christian. Christianity was forbidden in Japan (and severely persecuted) from the late 1500s to 1853. Christianity really does have less influence there than in a great many other countries.
The part which is less certain is the influence on portrayals of sex, but it doesn’t seem crazy to me that the taboos against portraying sex (for various values of sex) which are in play (much less than they used to be) in countries with a heavier Christian influence would be weaker or non-existent there.
I’ve modified my last sentence above to be about sex rather than imagination in general.
Christianity really does have less influence there than in a great many other countries.
Not the point under question.
The part which is less certain is the influence on portrayals of sex, but it doesn’t seem crazy to me that the taboos against portraying sex (for various values of sex) which are in play (much less than they used to be) in countries with a heavier Christian influence would be weaker or non-existent there.
Christianity is not the only religion with sexual taboos. I thought this was just a thinko or something, but after reading your elucidation, I’m even more bewildered.
I think her point makes sense. Shinto( the main religion in Japan) does have a lot less taboos and is a lot more open towards sex than other religions (including Christianity). It might be the case that there is another factor responsible for the lesser inhibitions towards sex in the Japanese culture which also caused Shinto to be formed the way it is, but nonetheless unless I am missing something NancyLebovitz’s point makes sense.
I think it’s got elements which suggest that the Japanese have been much less opposed to pornography over a longer period than what I think of as normal for western/Christian cultures, but the matter is more complex than I thought.
I can do a comment with the quotes I think are relevant, but it would be quite long, so I’m not sure of the etiquette for doing so—is it possible to do cuts for length in comments?
Christianity is not the only religion with sexual taboos. I thought this was just a thinko or something, but after reading your elucidation, I’m even more bewildered.
But feudal/imperial japanese culture had very different attitudes on sexual matters than almost every religion with sexual taboos. Even the buddhism-branched traditions, religions and cultures didn’t have the same views, even though it still resulted in practical terms in “Monks (Priests) should abstain from sex and thoughts of sex”.
AFAIK throughout most of post-genpei japanese history up until slightly after the beginning of Meiji, it was perfectly acceptable (and sometimes recommended) for a woman who liked a man but could not “be with” (aka have a romantic relationship or sexual interactions) that man for social, status, etc. reasons to instead designate a “replacement”—in rude terms, a whore hired by the woman to have sex with the man as a sign of affection. This is portrayed in a very crude fashion at some point in the popular movie “Shogun”, IIRC.
However, the whole thing about how this is directly related to them not being a Christian nation somewhat baffles me still.
Modern Japan has heavy taboos of all sorts on portrayals of sex (see last year’s fiasco about the Tokyo ban on porn, or their stringent laws on censoring of all erotic content), but where sex is accepted, they’re apparently much more liberal in which kinds can be represented or even done.
I’ve corrected the spelling of manga—thanks.
A brief history of Christianity in Japan—Between one and four percent of Japanese are Christian. Christianity was forbidden in Japan (and severely persecuted) from the late 1500s to 1853. Christianity really does have less influence there than in a great many other countries.
The part which is less certain is the influence on portrayals of sex, but it doesn’t seem crazy to me that the taboos against portraying sex (for various values of sex) which are in play (much less than they used to be) in countries with a heavier Christian influence would be weaker or non-existent there.
I’ve modified my last sentence above to be about sex rather than imagination in general.
Not the point under question.
Christianity is not the only religion with sexual taboos. I thought this was just a thinko or something, but after reading your elucidation, I’m even more bewildered.
I think her point makes sense. Shinto( the main religion in Japan) does have a lot less taboos and is a lot more open towards sex than other religions (including Christianity). It might be the case that there is another factor responsible for the lesser inhibitions towards sex in the Japanese culture which also caused Shinto to be formed the way it is, but nonetheless unless I am missing something NancyLebovitz’s point makes sense.
Reducing Japanese religious experience to Shinto is almost even more wrong than reducing it to “not really Christian.”
I’m done. Anyone who cares can read what the IES has to say about the matter.
Thanks for the link.
I think it’s got elements which suggest that the Japanese have been much less opposed to pornography over a longer period than what I think of as normal for western/Christian cultures, but the matter is more complex than I thought.
I can do a comment with the quotes I think are relevant, but it would be quite long, so I’m not sure of the etiquette for doing so—is it possible to do cuts for length in comments?
But feudal/imperial japanese culture had very different attitudes on sexual matters than almost every religion with sexual taboos. Even the buddhism-branched traditions, religions and cultures didn’t have the same views, even though it still resulted in practical terms in “Monks (Priests) should abstain from sex and thoughts of sex”.
AFAIK throughout most of post-genpei japanese history up until slightly after the beginning of Meiji, it was perfectly acceptable (and sometimes recommended) for a woman who liked a man but could not “be with” (aka have a romantic relationship or sexual interactions) that man for social, status, etc. reasons to instead designate a “replacement”—in rude terms, a whore hired by the woman to have sex with the man as a sign of affection. This is portrayed in a very crude fashion at some point in the popular movie “Shogun”, IIRC.
However, the whole thing about how this is directly related to them not being a Christian nation somewhat baffles me still.
Modern Japan has heavy taboos of all sorts on portrayals of sex (see last year’s fiasco about the Tokyo ban on porn, or their stringent laws on censoring of all erotic content), but where sex is accepted, they’re apparently much more liberal in which kinds can be represented or even done.
Note that the censorship was something that the US Occupation enacted, and that the Japanese government simply never repealed.