The document discusses different types of rituals celebrated at different points throughout the year or in response to life events. There are seasonal rituals associated with agriculture and history/tradition, as well as exchange rituals where offerings are made to gods in return for blessings. Affliction rituals seek to mitigate misfortune believed caused by spirits, while feasting rituals reinforce community membership and values through shared food, entertainment, and temporary inversion of social norms.

1. Exploring Rituals
Robert Croker, Nanzan University

2. Seasonal Rituals

3. Seasonal Cycle Rituals
Definition: rituals which are celebrated at
different points through the year.
Two (+ one) types:
seasonal rituals: agricultural practices: to
harmonize social activities with seasonal
rhythms, or to try to influence nature.
commemorative rituals: historical
remembering: to establish a link between past
and present, and to reaffirm basic cultural
attitudes, behviours, and identities.
( life rituals: associated with the life cycle)

4. NewYear

5. NewYear

6. NewYear

7. NewYear

9. (Setsubun) 2 3

10. Doll’s Day and Boy’s Day
13

12. autumn harvest festivals

13. Exchange Rituals

14. Exchange Rituals
Definition: rituals when people make
offerings to god(s) with the expectation of
receiving something in return i.e. an explicit
exchange by which humans provide
sustenance to divine powers in return for
divine contributions to human well-being.
Two types:
Concrete – a good harvest or long life
Abstract – spiritual redemption

15. Affliction Rituals

16. Affliction Rituals
Definition: rituals which seek to mitigate the
influence of spirits thought to be afflicting humans
with misfortune.
Process:
a cleansing or healing ritual is undertaken to
mitigate the influence of spirits by purging the
body and mind of impurities that have disturbed
the mind-body state
Notes: across cultures, the pollution is often
defined differently and so are the remedies.

18. Feasting Rituals

19. Feasting Rituals
Definition: rituals in which people publicly
express their membership, commitment and
adherence to a particular community and
basic set of values.
Common elements: sharing food and drink,
dancing and entertainment, the inversion of
social norms and conventions.
Notes: often occur seasonally.