On the Edge of the Auspicious
On the Edge of the Auspicious

Author: Mary M. Cameron

Publisher: University of Illinois Press

Published: 1998

Total Pages: 332

ISBN-13: 9780252067167

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Drawing on data from work, family, and religious domains, addresses the relationship between gender and Hindu caste hierarchy in western Nepal.

Thicker Than Water
Thicker Than Water

Author: Melissa Meyer

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2014-02-04

Total Pages: 272

ISBN-13: 1135342008

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Blood is more than a fluid solution of cells, platelets and plasma. It is a symbol for the most basic of human concerns--life, death and family find expression in rituals surrounding everything from menstruation to human sacrifice. Comprehensive in its scope and provocative in its argument, this book examines beliefs and rituals concerning blood in a range of regional and religious contexts throughout human history. Meyer reveals the origins of a wide range of blood rituals, from the earliest surviving human symbolism of fertility and the hunt, to the Jewish bris, and the clitoridectomies given to young girls in parts of Africa. The book also explores how cultural practices influence gene selection and makes a connection with the natural sciences by exploring how color perception influences the human proclivity to create blood symbols and rituals.

P'ungsu
P'ungsu

Author: Hong-key Yoon

Publisher: SUNY Press

Published: 2017-12-04

Total Pages: 446

ISBN-13: 1438468695

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The first scholarly book to address Korean geomancy through an interdisciplinary lens. This book is a milestone in the history of academic research on the development and role of geomancy (fengshui in Chinese and p’ungsu in Korean) in Korean culture and society. As the first interdisciplinary work of its kind, it investigates many topics in geomancy studies that have never been previously explored, and contains contributions from a number of disciplines including geography, historical studies, environmental science, architecture, landscape architecture, religious studies, and psychoanalysis. While almost all books in English about geomancy are addressed to general readers as practical guides for divining auspicious locations, P’ungsu is a work of rigorous scholarship that documents, analyzes, and explains past and current practices of geomancy. Its readers will better understand the impact of geomancy on the Korean cultural landscape and appreciate the significant ecological principles embedded in the geomantic traditions of Korea; while researchers will discover new insights and inspirations for future research on geomancy not only in Korea, but in China and elsewhere.

Malay Magic
Malay Magic

Author: Walter William Skeat

Publisher: Good Press

Published: 2023-10-12

Total Pages: 1572

ISBN-13:

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In "Malay Magic: The Folklore and Popular Religion of the Malay Peninsula," Walter William Skeat immerses readers in the mystical world of Malay folklore and popular religion. Skeat's meticulous research and storytelling talent bring to life the enchanting traditions and beliefs of the Malay Peninsula. The book is a treasure trove of cultural insights, making it a fascinating read for those interested in ethnography and the supernatural.

The Culture of Fengshui in Korea
The Culture of Fengshui in Korea

Author: Hong-Key Yoon

Publisher: Lexington Books

Published: 2006-11-13

Total Pages: 350

ISBN-13: 0739153854

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The term Fengshui, which literally means 'wind and water,' is the ancient Chinese art of selecting an auspicious site to provide the most harmonious relationship between human and earth. The term is generally translated as 'geomancy,' and has had a deep and extensive impact on Korean, Chinese, and other East Asian cultures. Hong-key Yoon's book explores the nature of geomantic principles and the culture of practicing them in Korean cultural contexts. Yoon first examines the nature and historical background of geomancy, geomantic principles for auspicious sites (houses, graves, and cities) and provides an interpretation of geomantic principles as practiced in Korea. Yoon looks at geomancy's influence on cartography, religion and philosophy, and urban development in both Korea and China. Finally, Yoon debates the role of geomancy in the iconographical warfare between Japanese colonialism and Korean nationalism as it affected the cultural landscape of Kyongbok Palace in Seoul.