Onsen and the Concept of the Body in Japanese Culture
Fuente:
Zenodo
Salvato in:
| Autore principale: | |
|---|---|
| Natura: | Recurso digital |
| Pubblicazione: |
Zenodo
2026
|
| Soggetti: | |
| Accesso online: | |
| Tags: |
Aggiungi Tag
Nessun Tag, puoi essere il primo ad aggiungerne!!
|
| _version_ | 1866901145109135360 |
|---|---|
| author | NIMMAHNRATANAKUL, LUNCHANAWAT |
| author_facet | NIMMAHNRATANAKUL, LUNCHANAWAT |
| contents | <p>This article aims to analyze onsen (hot spring bathing) as a cultural space that reflects the concept of the body in Japanese society. Rather than viewing it merely as a hygienic activity, onsen is examined as a ritual and social structure in which the body functions as a medium for organizing relationships among individuals, community and nature.</p> <p>The analysis demonstrates that Japanese onsen culture has deep historical roots predating the introduction of Buddhism (commonly dated to 538 or 552 CE), and was later reinterpreted through the frameworks of Shinto and Buddhism. Key concepts include relational nakedness (hadaka no tsukiai), notions of impurity and purification (kegare and harae) and ritual equality (communitas).</p> <p>The article argues that nakedness in onsen is not defined in terms of sexuality or privacy, but is reconstituted as a “clean and equal body” through the process of purification prior to entering shared space. Although influenced by Buddhist notions of detachment from self-identity, the body in onsen remains carefully regulated within the framework of collective norms and social etiquette.</p> |
| format | Recurso digital |
| id | zenodo_https___doi_org_10_5281_zenodo_19656204 |
| institution | Zenodo |
| language | |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publisher | Zenodo |
| record_format | zenodo |
| spellingShingle | Onsen and the Concept of the Body in Japanese Culture NIMMAHNRATANAKUL, LUNCHANAWAT Onsen Body Purification Communitas Japanese Culture <p>This article aims to analyze onsen (hot spring bathing) as a cultural space that reflects the concept of the body in Japanese society. Rather than viewing it merely as a hygienic activity, onsen is examined as a ritual and social structure in which the body functions as a medium for organizing relationships among individuals, community and nature.</p> <p>The analysis demonstrates that Japanese onsen culture has deep historical roots predating the introduction of Buddhism (commonly dated to 538 or 552 CE), and was later reinterpreted through the frameworks of Shinto and Buddhism. Key concepts include relational nakedness (hadaka no tsukiai), notions of impurity and purification (kegare and harae) and ritual equality (communitas).</p> <p>The article argues that nakedness in onsen is not defined in terms of sexuality or privacy, but is reconstituted as a “clean and equal body” through the process of purification prior to entering shared space. Although influenced by Buddhist notions of detachment from self-identity, the body in onsen remains carefully regulated within the framework of collective norms and social etiquette.</p> |
| title | Onsen and the Concept of the Body in Japanese Culture |
| topic | Onsen Body Purification Communitas Japanese Culture |
| url | https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19656204 |