Kyoto Asian Studies Group meeting June 13th

[Hillary Pedersen]

Dear colleagues, The speaker for the June meeting of the Kyoto Asian Studies Group is Patricia Yamada, who will present “Customs and Rites of Summer in Kyoto: Compassion and Anxiety” (see abstract below).   The lecture will be held on Monday, June 13th from 6:30-8:30 in Room 213 of the Fusokan on the Doshisha University Campus (see link below for access information).   Abstract   Memorial rites that take place in Kyoto during the month of August are based on concerns for dead spirits: the newly dead or “shinbotoke”; the “unconnected” dead (wandering spirits or “muenbotoke”); the hungry ghosts or “gaki”; and family ancestors or “senzo.” This illustrated presentation looks at the customs and preparations utilized in memorializing Kyoto’s dead—the “Rokudo mairi” and “bonichi”; the Buddhist ritual called “feeding the hungry ghosts”; “Jizo bon” and the “Roku Jizo meguri”; as well as ceremonies observed for sending off the spirits of the dead—lantern and fire rituals, “manto-e,” “toro nagashi,” and the “Daimonji Gozan Okuribi.”　   Patricia Yamada is an independent researcher based in Kyoto.   Sponsored by the Kyoto Consortium for Japanese Studies. For access information see:   http://www.doshisha.ac.jp/english/access/ima_campus.html Please refrain from bringing food or drinks into the meeting room. Contact: Hillary Pedersen, hill...@yahoo.com