Fr. 54.50

William R. La Fleur, William R. Lafkeur, W. R. LaFleur, William Lafleur, William R. LaFleur, LaFleur William R.

Liquid Life - Abortion and Buddhism in Japan

English · Paperback / Softback

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Description

Why would a country strongly influenced by Buddhism's reverence for life allow legalized, widely used abortion? Equally puzzling to many Westerners is the Japanese practice of mizuko rites, in which the parents of aborted fetuses pray for the well-being of these rejected "lives." In this provocative investigation, William LaFleur examines abortion as a window on the culture and ethics of Japan. At the same time he contributes to the Western debate on abortion, exploring how the Japanese resolve their conflicting emotions privately and avoid the pro-life/pro-choice politics that sharply divide Americans on the issue.

List of contents

List of Illustrations

Ch. 2

A World of Water and Words

Ch. 3

Social Death, Social Birth

Ch. 4

Jizo at the Crossroads

Pt. 2

Historical Processes

Ch. 6

Edo: Population

Ch. 7

Edo: Polemics

Ch. 8

Sex, War, and Peace

Pt. 3

Contemporary Issues

Ch. 10

Moral Swamps

Ch. 11

A Rational, National Family

Ch. 12

Crossovers

Conclusion

Appendix: "The Way to Memorialize One's Mizuko"

Notes

Bibliography

Index

About the author

William R. LaFleur is Professor of Japanese and the Joseph B. Glossberg Term Professor of Humanities at the University of Pennsylvania.

Summary

Why would a country strongly influenced by Buddhism's reverence for life allow legalized, widely used abortion? This title examines abortion as a window on the culture and ethics of Japan.

Additional text

"Objective, informed, observant, and imaginative. William LaFleur not only enlarges our knowledge, he also uses his single topic to illuminate a broad and fundamental feature of Japanese society itself."---Donald Richie, Japan Times Weekly

Product details

Authors	William R. La Fleur, William R. Lafkeur, W. R. LaFleur, William Lafleur, William R. LaFleur, LaFleur William R.
Publisher	Princeton University Press

Languages	English
Product format	Paperback / Softback
Released	30.11.1994

EAN	9780691029658
ISBN	978-0-691-02965-8
No. of pages	275
Dimensions	155 mm x 235 mm x 18 mm
Subjects	Education and learning > Teaching preparation > Vocational needs Humanities, art, music > Religion/theology > Other religions Japan, Cultural Studies, RELIGION / Buddhism / General, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Anthropology / Cultural & Social, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Abortion & Birth Control, Buddhism, Ethical issues: abortion & birth control, Ethical issues: abortion and birth control

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