This thesis discusses what motivates people in Japan to buy sacred charms (omamori), through the lens of the Japanese ritual worldview. They are traditionally used as a means for protection or as a...Show moreThis thesis discusses what motivates people in Japan to buy sacred charms (omamori), through the lens of the Japanese ritual worldview. They are traditionally used as a means for protection or as a source of beneficial power. In recent decennia, consumer culture has permeated the world of religion in Japan and as a result distributors of religious tokens (temples and shrines) have started to focus more on the visual appeal of charms.Show less
This research studied the conceptualization of the functionality of power objects in the ancient world. With the help of emerging research fields on material agency and ancient emotions,...Show moreThis research studied the conceptualization of the functionality of power objects in the ancient world. With the help of emerging research fields on material agency and ancient emotions, instructions for making amulets have been studied to understand why ancient individuals put trust in certain objects that could, as they believed, influence their lives. This research has shown that the concept of protective circles can help to gain a better understanding of the believed functions of amulets and other power objects.Show less
