Please for an advice in connection to the literature

[Anna Pawlak]

Hello.
I have to write a term paper on the Anthropology of evil. Topic: "The perception of evil in the culture of Japan, the two major religions Shinto and Buddhism," and I would like to ask for advice on the choice of literature.

 

[Mike Cash]

I would hate to have that topic assigned to me. I don't think Shinto concerns itself with good and evil very much, but I could be completely wrong. I've been doing quite a bit of reading of Japanese materials on Buddhism lately, and "good vs. evil" just really doesn't come up. There's no deity to sin against and no notion of something evil to tempt one into it. Lots of talk warning against covetousness, anger, ignorance, and attachment. I can't think of what part of Japanese Buddhism you'd look at to find the notion of "evil" playing a part.

The only thing even close I can think of is Nichiren back around 1253 writing 立正安国論 blaming the government, the people, and the Pure Land sects for bringing on the Kamakura earthquake, famine, and epidemics by failing to embrace the Lotus Sutra.

 

[Glenski]

Let me google that for you