Representations of “Japanese Nature”: A Historical Overview

“Nature” as a concept and word is extremely elusive, yet it is commonly taken for granted that “the pristine nature” is “out there.” This book explores the factors that have naturalized the idea of nature as “pristine” into our psyche, and as something that has a spatial, visual, and temporal dimension for “seasons”. Much emphasis is given to the inhabitants demonstrating the dynamic characteristic of nature. As a study done over a long period of history, Representations of “Japanese Nature” shows the mutual support between conceptual principles of nature and the daily activities of the people .