Mystical Retribution, Spirit Possession, and Social Structure in a Japanese Village

• Published in: Ethnology 1967-07, Vol.6 (3), p.237-262
• Main Author: Yoshida, Teigo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Deities; Diseases; Envy; Ethnology; Fathers; Households; Japan/Japanese; Mystic/Mysticism/Mystical; Neighborhoods; Social structure/Social structures; Sons; Spirit possession; Village/Villages/Villagers; Villages
• ISSN: 0014-1828
• DOI: 10.2307/3773030

A study of the custom of relating illnesses or injuries to a supernatural power in the Japanese village of Umani (99 households, 422 persons), in southwestern Shikoku. The phenomena of 'dog-spirit holding' & possession by spirits of deceased & living persons are studied in this context. While these beliefs are found to have some negative functions such as creating & preserving anxiety & tension, various positive functions are noted, eg, these beliefs serve to explain by mystical diagnosis the reasons for illness & to relieve the anxiety of the patient & his or her fam by permitting treatment by supernatural techniques. Beliefs in retribution tatari are used to explain the particularity of misfortunes. Beliefs & practices associated with the iwaigami worship, which aim on a manifest level to prevent & cure disease or injury, appear to perpetuate traditional norms & behavior re supernatural agents, & to strengthen & maintain the solidarity of kin groups. Anxiety & tension preserved by these beliefs contribute to the maintenance of the S-cul system of the village. In spite of the usefulness of psychol'al concepts such as anxiety & tension, it is suggested that a purely psychol'al approach cannot fully explain the phenomena. Some of these phenomena are explained in terms of the underlying SR, & the soc structural context in which cases of retribution & possession take place is stressed. However, not all forms of retribution & possession can be explained in terms of soc structure. 1 Table. M. Maxfield.