Beschreibung
Historical Reality or Metaphoric Expression?
elucidates the differing interpretations on Japanese
mythology by the German philologist and historian Karl
Florenz (1865 – 1939) and the Japanese
kokugakusha Iida Takesato (1828 – 1900) at the end of
the 19th century.
Iida in his Nihonshoki-tsushaku and Florenz
in his Japanische Mythologie approached a
comparable endeavor from very different vantage points. It
is shown how their distinct cultural formation, their
education and upbringing within unlike academic discourses,
and their life within a variety of intellectual, social and
political milieus formed their different scholarly outlook
and methodology in interpreting and commenting on the
Nihongi-myths.
Comparing both scholars, their work and their mutual
relation, we can find a very interesting interaction of
cultural and scholarly traditions. Based on translations of
both works, this study juxtaposes Iida’s `emic’ inner view
on Japanese mythology with the `etic’ outside view of
Florenz, and at the same time provides the first portrayal
of life and work of these two eminent scholars in English.
