EA 116 Discussion Questions Week 8

The Changing Representation of Female Ghosts. 

Comparing female ghosts in the Heian, Muromachi, and Edo periods

1. Begin by making a list of how the representation of female ghosts changes in the Edo period by analyzing the female ghosts in woodblock prints of the 19th century. You should use specific, concrete examples from images from the lecture to make your points (you can also use readings to support your points).  How are they different from earlier ghosts? You can choose among the examples we discussed in class:  Okiku and the well, Yugao from Tale of Genji, "The Nightly Weeping Rock" and ubume.  

Points of comparison you should consider (try to answer all of them):

a. the ghosts' visual characteristics

b. their motivations (i.e. what keeps them haunting this world)

c. their level of psychological complexity

d. their level of power

e. how they are pacified and/or exorcised.

2. Second, discuss how might these changes in visual representation reflect changes in the dominant religious and ethical frameworks from Heian to Edo period (the move from Buddhism to Neo-Confucianism)? Especially consider how Edo-period female ghosts may be exemplifying (or failing to exemplify) Edo-period Neo-Confucian ideals for women (onna-rashisa). (See class lecture 2/28)