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Taoism and its influence in Japan: An Annotated Bibliography

Anurag Basu Thakur

Jacksonville state University

EH 102.006 English Composition II

Dr. Larry Gray

October 24, 2024

Bocking, B. (1997). A popular dictionary of Shinto. Curzon Press.

Summary:

Bocking's dictionary gives a profound insight into Shinto and its interaction with other

spiritual traditions, among which is Taoism. It reveals precisely how Taoist philosophies,

which include the concept of balance and harmony and divination, eventually found their

place in Shinto practices and Japanese rituals. It questions how subtle influences of the Taoist

cosmology influenced traditional Japanese religious practices and even modern presentation

of Shinto rituals, which have become based upon notions of natural harmony and human

interrelations within nature.

Evaluation:

This source is going to clarify how Taoist practices historically merged with Shinto ones

regarding balance, nature, and divination have survived into today's Shinto. While it is not

focused on pure Taoism, it will be a help in researching how historical Taoist ideas continue

today, influencing Japanese spirituality. Its focus is centred around Shinto; therefore,

additional sources will be necessary to fully explore the influence of Taoist religion.

Kohn, L. (2014). Taoism and Chinese religion. University of Hawaii Press.

Summary:

Kohn's book provides a general overview of the development and dissemination of Taoism

across East Asia, including its impact on Japanese culture and philosophy. The text engages

in the exploration of Taoist concepts such as wu wei (non-action) and how such ideas, as

embraced by Japanese Zen Buddhism, still have impacts on modern Japanese approaches to

meditation, spirituality, and art. Kohn further discusses the history of transmission with
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regard to various Taoist texts and rituals, explaining why these practices would survive into

contemporary Japanese society.

Evaluation:

Kohn's work has been fundamental in the deeper philosophical influence which is expected

from the reception of Taoism within the cultural and spiritual practices of Japan, particularly

in Zen Buddhism. This source shall be useful in tracing how the ideas of balance, non-action,

and simplicity have influenced not only the traditional ideas within historical traditions but

also modern Japanese practice of mindfulness and spiritual harmony. Though it primarily

deals with Chinese Taoism, this book gives critical context to understand how these ideas

were adapted in Japan.

Littleton, C. S. (2005). Mythology: The illustrated anthology of world myth and storytelling.

Duncan Baird Publishers.

Summary:

Littleton's anthology explains the way Taoist myths and ideas of immortality, supernatural

powers, and enlightenment influenced Japanese folklore and cultural practices. Evidence of

the influence of the Tao upon Japanese stories and religious practices is examined in text,

tracing the origins of Taoist myth into its survival into modern manifestations in Japanese

festivals, artistic depictions, and even into contemporary film and literary adaption of

folklore.

Evaluation:

Most useful herein is the examination of how Taoist ideas permeated Japanese folklore,

influencing not only historical mythologies but also modern Japanese cultural expressions. It
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is focused on storytelling and mythology, so it therefore fits in with the need to understand

how Taoist ideas have been embedded in the continuous cultural narrative found in modern

Japanese media, literature, and festivals. This source's weakness is its broad scope, which

encompasses most of the world's mythologies; nevertheless, the sections referring to the

Taoist influence in Japan are invaluable to this project.

Loy, D. (2008). Awareness bound and unbound: Buddhist essays. SUNY Press.

Summary:

Several of Loy's essays address the relation of Taoism to Buddhism, in particular, ways in

which Taoism has contributed to the distinctive character of Japanese Zen. The book

concentrates on those aspects of Taoism-philosophical aspects regarding the

interconnectedness of things and harmony in nature-that remain alive in Japanese Zen

meditation and art and mindfulness practices. Loy also discusses how these aspects of the

Taoist philosophy have become an important part of contemporary Japanese thinking on

health and spirituality.

Review:

This is an essential book in understanding how Taoist concepts are represented in Japanese

spiritualities both in their traditional and contemporary forms, particularly through Zen

Buddhism. The book shows exactly how the ideas of balance, simplicity, and mindfulness in

the Taoist approach influence Japanese contemporary meditation practices and today's

modern mindfulness movement. Centered on philosophical analysis, it thus becomes a solid

contributor to the exploration of intellectual and practical connections between Taoism and

modern Japanese spirituality.

Sharf, R. H. (1995). The Zen of Japanese nationalism. History of Religions, 33(1), 1-43.

Summary:

The article by Sharf shows the way in which Taoist principles of nature, harmony, and

spontaneous action were taken into operation by Zen during Japan's rise in nationalism. The

text shows how these ideas influenced both religious practices as well as political ideologies

supportive of the notion of Japanese identity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He

argues that the Zen inspired by the Taoist principles was important for shaping the national

identity that continues to influence modern Japan.

Evaluation:

The given article is fundamental for understanding the way in which Taoist-influenced Zen

practices contributed towards modern Japanese nationalism and cultural identity. It gives

quite an unusual perspective on the way abstract ideas of harmony with nature and spirituality

can be used by concrete political movements, helpful for an analysis of the broader cultural

and social impact of Taoism. However, its focus is more specific to the period of nationalism,

which limits the wider applicability, though it is a good source in studying the interaction

between Taoist philosophy and modern Japanese political thinking.