Chair persons

Dr. Katja Triplett

Katja Triplett is Associate Professor (Akademische Rätin) at the Department of the Study of Religions and curator of the Museum of Religions (Religionskundliche Sammlung) at Marburg University. Triplett graduated in the Study of Religions, Japanese linguistics and Anthropology, and obtained her doctorate in Marburg. She held a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the Centre for the Study of Japanese Religions, SOAS, University of London (2004-5). Her main field of interest are Japanese religions in the late medieval and early modern periods with a focus on visual representations. Triplett has also done research on ritual practices in modern Japan. She is currently working on Buddhist healing rituals and preparing an exhibition on Tibetan Buddhist culture.

Dr. Lucia Dolce

Lucia Dolce is Senior Lecturer in the Department of the Study of Religions at SOAS, University of London, where she also directs the Centre for the Study of Japanese Religions. She holds a first degree in Japanese Studies from the University of Venezia, Italy, and a PhD from Leiden University, The Netherlands. Her main research interest is Japanese religiosity of the medieval period, in particular, the esotericisation of religious practice, the development of millenarian ideas, and kami-Buddhas associative practices. Her study of esoteric patterns in the thought of Nichiren was awarded the Nakamura Hajme Prize in 2004. She is currently completing a research project on rituals in pre-modern Japanese religion.

> Abstract

P 12 - Ritual Practices in Japan: Dynamics of Change in the Function and Performance of Buddhist Liturgies

Chairs: Dr. Katja Triplett triplett@staff.uni-marburg.de
Dr. Lucia Dolce ld16@soas.ac.uk

Download preliminary daily schedule here (pdf)
(for better readability kindly print it out)

Common activities:

Reception
On Monday, 29 September, we will officially open the conference with a reception from 19.30 to 22.30

Key Note Lecture
Tuesday, 30 September:
Key Note Speaker Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Jan Assmann
"Magie und Ritual"

Plenary Discussion
Wednesday, 1 October at 18.00 introductory presentation:
Prof. Dr. Christoph Wulf, Freie Universität Berlin
"The Future of the Science of Ritual in a transcultural Context"

Exchange meeting
Thursday, 2 October from 9:00 - 11:00:
Exchange meeting between scientists from the German Archaeological Institute
and the Collaborative Research Center SFB 619

Speakers (synonym for referee, panelist, active participant)

Day 1 – Monday, 29 September 2008

14:00-14:30 Paul S. Atkins

                        The Stages of Seppuku:
                        Performing Self-Execution in Premodern Japan

14:30-15:00    Eike Grossmann

                        The Use of Rituals in the Creation of New Events –
                        The Influences of Public Interest on Japanese folk performing arts
                        and their Struggle for Survival

15:00-15:30    Katja Triplett
                        Esoteric Buddhist eye-healing rituals in Japan

16:00-16:30 Benedetta Lomi

Iconography of Ritual: Images, Texts and Action

16:30-17:00 Fumi Ouchi

                        Buddhist liturgical chanting in Japan:
                        Vocalisation and the concept of Attaining
                        Buddhahood in this Very Body

17:00-17:30    Lucia Dolce
                        The contested space of Buddhist public rituals:
                        the shûnie of the Nara temples

Abstract

This panel proposes to explore the culture-specific dynamics entailed in the performance of ritual practices in Japan. The underlying assumption of our analysis is that the meaning of ritual is redefined every time according to the participants, the geographical and historical circumstances in which the performance takes place, and recently the use of mass media. For instance, research on Japanese practices suggests that rituals originally imported from China were re-interpreted and developed along ‘unorthodox’ lines in Japan, changing in time. These variations in turn were, and still are, employed as legitimizing strategies for the group that performs or sponsors the ritual, and thus become key factors to understand the power relations created during the ritual. Focusing on the physical actions, the material culture, and the emotional dimensions of the performance, the panel will shed light on the tensions generated during the process of reiteration, innovation and confrontation with new social patterns from the medieval period to the present.

The sub-panel “Dynamics of change in the function and performance of Buddhist liturgies” brings together different source material from the perspective of textual analysis, iconography, anthropology and ethno-musicology, in order to develop a coherent hypothesis on how and why certain rituals changed. In particular, we will address the construction of authority and the empowerment of individual practitioners; the relation between centre and periphery and the definition of local identity; and the interactions between ritualists of different origins, religious centres and sponsors.

HOME PROGRAMME PANELS REGISTRATION EVENTS TRAVEL MEDIA
SFB 619 Sponsors & Partners Poster Send to a Colleague Contact Imprint	Chair persons Dr. Katja Triplett Katja Triplett is Associate Professor (Akademische Rätin) at the Department of the Study of Religions and curator of the Museum of Religions (Religionskundliche Sammlung) at Marburg University. Triplett graduated in the Study of Religions, Japanese linguistics and Anthropology, and obtained her doctorate in Marburg. She held a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the Centre for the Study of Japanese Religions, SOAS, University of London (2004-5). Her main field of interest are Japanese religions in the late medieval and early modern periods with a focus on visual representations. Triplett has also done research on ritual practices in modern Japan. She is currently working on Buddhist healing rituals and preparing an exhibition on Tibetan Buddhist culture. Dr. Lucia Dolce Lucia Dolce is Senior Lecturer in the Department of the Study of Religions at SOAS, University of London, where she also directs the Centre for the Study of Japanese Religions. She holds a first degree in Japanese Studies from the University of Venezia, Italy, and a PhD from Leiden University, The Netherlands. Her main research interest is Japanese religiosity of the medieval period, in particular, the esotericisation of religious practice, the development of millenarian ideas, and kami-Buddhas associative practices. Her study of esoteric patterns in the thought of Nichiren was awarded the Nakamura Hajme Prize in 2004. She is currently completing a research project on rituals in pre-modern Japanese religion. > Abstract P 12 - Ritual Practices in Japan: Dynamics of Change in the Function and Performance of Buddhist Liturgies Chairs: Dr. Katja Triplett triplett@staff.uni-marburg.de Dr. Lucia Dolce ld16@soas.ac.uk Download preliminary daily schedule here (pdf) (for better readability kindly print it out) Common activities: Reception On Monday, 29 September, we will officially open the conference with a reception from 19.30 to 22.30 Key Note Lecture Tuesday, 30 September: Key Note Speaker Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Jan Assmann "Magie und Ritual" Plenary Discussion Wednesday, 1 October at 18.00 introductory presentation: Prof. Dr. Christoph Wulf, Freie Universität Berlin "The Future of the Science of Ritual in a transcultural Context" Exchange meeting Thursday, 2 October from 9:00 - 11:00: Exchange meeting between scientists from the German Archaeological Institute and the Collaborative Research Center SFB 619 Speakers (synonym for referee, panelist, active participant) Day 1 – Monday, 29 September 2008 14:00-14:30 Paul S. Atkins The Stages of Seppuku: Performing Self-Execution in Premodern Japan 14:30-15:00 Eike Grossmann The Use of Rituals in the Creation of New Events – The Influences of Public Interest on Japanese folk performing arts and their Struggle for Survival 15:00-15:30 Katja Triplett Esoteric Buddhist eye-healing rituals in Japan 16:00-16:30 Benedetta Lomi Iconography of Ritual: Images, Texts and Action 16:30-17:00 Fumi Ouchi Buddhist liturgical chanting in Japan: Vocalisation and the concept of Attaining Buddhahood in this Very Body 17:00-17:30 Lucia Dolce The contested space of Buddhist public rituals: the shûnie of the Nara temples Abstract This panel proposes to explore the culture-specific dynamics entailed in the performance of ritual practices in Japan. The underlying assumption of our analysis is that the meaning of ritual is redefined every time according to the participants, the geographical and historical circumstances in which the performance takes place, and recently the use of mass media. For instance, research on Japanese practices suggests that rituals originally imported from China were re-interpreted and developed along ‘unorthodox’ lines in Japan, changing in time. These variations in turn were, and still are, employed as legitimizing strategies for the group that performs or sponsors the ritual, and thus become key factors to understand the power relations created during the ritual. Focusing on the physical actions, the material culture, and the emotional dimensions of the performance, the panel will shed light on the tensions generated during the process of reiteration, innovation and confrontation with new social patterns from the medieval period to the present. The sub-panel “Dynamics of change in the function and performance of Buddhist liturgies” brings together different source material from the perspective of textual analysis, iconography, anthropology and ethno-musicology, in order to develop a coherent hypothesis on how and why certain rituals changed. In particular, we will address the construction of authority and the empowerment of individual practitioners; the relation between centre and periphery and the definition of local identity; and the interactions between ritualists of different origins, religious centres and sponsors.