From belief to religion: Understanding the Gion Festival as a politico-cultural phenomenon

Abstract

This thesis is an attempt to conceptualize the development of belief in the history of Japan. It does so through two ways, the first of which is a theological discussion of how systems of belief and later religion was formed and organized throughout key moments in the history of Japan. The second way is the investigation of the historical application of those theological developments in the Gion cultic site and its primary ritual, the Gion Festival. The Gion Festival is taken to be a representative ritual event which has historically been subject to political machinations from power groups. It has, at the same time, been one of the most popular ritual events in Japan throughout history, and is thus a representation of popular belief. The investigation of the Gion cultic complex and the Gion Festival is done by contextual analysis and interpretation, as well as ethnographic research completed in Kyoto, in the summer of 2017. The aim of the thesis is to engage in a discussion concerning how the theoretical formation of belief in Japan has historically been riddled with political implications, and ultimately understand conceptualizing systems of belief as politico cultural phenomena, in the sense that they can only be fully understood in their relation to their political contexts. In understanding the historical impact of intellectual development and political thought on belief, I hope to recontextualize especially the modern experience of religion in Japan.