Ritual Civilization and Mythological Coding

This book places Li Ji (the Book of Rites) back in the overall context of books, rites and its research history, drawing on the interrelations between myth, ritual and materialized symbols to do so. Further, it employs the double perspectives of books and rites to explore the sources and symbols of the capping ceremony (rites of passage), decode the prototypes of Miao and Ming Tang, and restore the discourse patterns of people of five directions. The book subsequently investigates the formation and function of the Yue Ling calendar and disaster ritual, so as to reveal the human cognitive encoding and metalanguage of ritual behavior involved. In the process, it demonstrates that Li Ji, its textual memories, archaeological remains and traditional ceremony narratives are all subject to the latent myth coding mechanism in China's cultural system, while the compilation and materialized remains are merely forms of ritual refactoring, interpretation and exhibition, used whenauthority seeks the aid of ritual civilization to strengthen its legitimacy and maintain the social order.

Explores and solves a number of perennial problems in the study of classics and rites with the aid of new theories and methods Offers explanations of rituals as images and forms of material culture Includes over 30 hand-drawn sketches to help readers understand the content discussed

Klappentext

This book places Li Ji (the Book of Rites) back in the overall context of "books," "rites" and its research history, drawing on the interrelations between myth, ritual and "materialized" symbols to do so. Further, it employs the double perspectives of "books" and "rites" to explore the sources and symbols of the capping ceremony (rites of passage), decode the prototypes of Miao and Ming Tang, and restore the discourse patterns of "people of five directions." The book subsequently investigates the formation and function of the Yue Ling calendar and disaster ritual, so as to reveal the human cognitive encoding and metalanguage of ritual behavior involved. In the process, it demonstrates that Li Ji, its textual memories, archaeological remains and "traditional ceremony" narratives are all subject to the latent myth coding mechanism in China's cultural system, while the "compilation" and "materialized" remains are merely forms of ritual refactoring, interpretation and exhibition, used whenauthority seeks the aid of ritual civilization to strengthen its legitimacy and maintain the social order.

Inhalt
Chapter 1. Introduction.- Chapter 2. "Rebirth" Myth: Explore the Source and Symbols of Capping Ceremony.- Chapter 3. Sacred SpaceSymbols of Miao.- Chapter 4. Sacred and Profane: Space Narration of Li Ji: Ming Tang (Bright Hall).- Chapter 5. Cognition of Cosmopolitanthe Study on Narrative of Five Orientation Ethnic group.- Chapter 6. Renewal: Time and Space Myth in Li Ji: Yue Ling(Climate and Phenology in A Lunar Month).- Chapter 7. Ritual to Deter Disaster: Disaster Memory and Ritual Function in Li Ji.- Chapter 8. Conclusion.