Skip to main content
Book cover

Shichigosan pp 243–250Cite as

Palgrave Macmillan

Conclusion: Children, Women, and Families—Creating a Ritual for One and All

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
  • 311 Accesses

Part of the book series: Palgrave Studies in Urban Anthropology ((PSUA))

Abstract

The main findings are summarized following the three main objectives of this work: to track the history of the ritual, to interpret the role of consumption practices involved in the creation of the ritual event, and to explore the reasons for its continuing popularity in contemporary Japanese society. While the ritual works in multiple ways and satisfies multiple needs, the principal functions of the ritual, identified in the work, are examined through an examination of the main components (the festive dress, the photo, shrine visit) and actors. The complexity of the meaning of shrine worship is made part of a more general discourse on categories such as ‘religion’, ‘faith’, and ‘sacred’.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  • Fitzgerald, T. (2003). ‘Religion’ and ‘the secular’ in Japan. Electronic Journal of Contemporary Japanese Studies. Discussion Paper 3. http://www.japanesestudies.org.uk/discussionpapers/Fitzgerald.html

  • Fitzgerald, T. (2004). The religion-secular dichotomy. Electronic Journal of Contemporary Japanese Studies. Discussion Paper 2. http://www.japanesestudies.org.uk/discussionpapers/Fitzgerald2.html

  • Grimes, L. R. (1982). Defining nascent ritual. Journal of the American Academy of Religion, 50(4), 539–556.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hendry, J. (1993). Wrapping culture: Politeness, presentation, and power in Japan and other societies. Location: Clarendon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hendry, J. (1995). The ritual of the revolving towel. In J. Van Bremen & D. P. Martinez (Eds.), Ceremony and ritual in Japan: Religious practices in an industrialized society (pp. 210–226). London/New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Bremen, J. (1995). Introduction: The myth of the secularization of industrialized societies. In J. Van Bremen & D. P. Martinez (Eds.), Ceremony and ritual in Japan: Religious practices in an industrialized society (pp. 1–24). London/New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Copyright information

© 2016 The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s)

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Papp, M. (2016). Conclusion: Children, Women, and Families—Creating a Ritual for One and All. In: Shichigosan. Palgrave Studies in Urban Anthropology. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-56538-9_8

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-56538-9_8

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, New York

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-137-56537-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-137-56538-9

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics