Reinterpreting Japanese History
by N
About This Novel
Yoshihiko Amino was one of the most original historians in Japan in the 20th century, and he single-handedly created a new situation in the study of Japanese medieval history. In this book, he shows the changes in Japan's country and society before modern times from many aspects such as the popularization of writing, currency circulation, class and discrimination, women's social status, the origin of the emperor and Japan's national title, and the differences in culture and life in different regions. He breaks the existing common sense and rethinks and interprets Japanese history. In his writings, medieval Japan was not an isolated island country, and its residents were not just farmers who worked on the land. Nor were they just warriors with strong armor, nobles vying for power, and emperors of the eternal line. In sharp contrast is the dynamic Japanese history driven by trade, circulation and competition. A large number of non-agricultural populations are active on these stages: mountain people and sea people who live on mountains, rivers and seas, various craftsmen who form guilds, various sects of New Buddhism that are deeply involved in social changes, women who enjoy a certain degree of freedom and actively participate in social activities, and fully participate in social activities. Merchants who make use of the land and sea transportation network, geishas, beggars, and witches who run around begging for a living, various "non-humans" with "filth" on their hands, lords and bureaucrats who work hard to run estates and territories... Together with the farmers, they constantly adapt and transform the environment in order to survive and develop, and create an economy, politics, society and culture with their own characteristics.
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