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Myth and Mankind
Realm of the Rising Sun: Japanese Myth
Recounts Japanese myths, including the origin of the imperial family and the deeds of heroes
144 pages, Hardcover
First published December 8, 1999
149 people want to read
About the author
Charles Phillips
464 books23 followersThere is more than one author by this name on Goodreads
Charles Phillips (b. 1962) is an established writer of popular history, a contributor to Cassell's Dictionary of Modern Britain as well as to the Chronicle of Britain and several illustrated stories.
He has a keen interest in the mythology and history of the great Maya and Aztec civilizations and was a key writer on Time Life's Myth and Mankind series.
Phillips is a graduate of Oxford University, and holds an MA from the University of Westminster.
See also:
Charles Phillips, 1787-1859
Charles Phillips, Goodreads author, Historical Fiction
Charles Phillips, b.1948, American history
Charles Phillips (b. 1962) is an established writer of popular history, a contributor to Cassell's Dictionary of Modern Britain as well as to the Chronicle of Britain and several illustrated stories.
He has a keen interest in the mythology and history of the great Maya and Aztec civilizations and was a key writer on Time Life's Myth and Mankind series.
Phillips is a graduate of Oxford University, and holds an MA from the University of Westminster.
See also:
Charles Phillips, 1787-1859
Charles Phillips, Goodreads author, Historical Fiction
Charles Phillips, b.1948, American history
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
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March 5, 2009For those unfamiliar with Japanese myth, or only have the smallest smattering of it (perhaps through watching anime) this is a good summary.
To be honest, I was hoping for something like the old D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths that I enjoyed so much as a child, only with a more adult point of view. However, this isn't much like that. There is, in fact, little narrative. The book is more a report, like a college freshman would write if he were required to write a 200 page paper. The style is dry, there isn't much of a conclusion, and it's far from comprehensive.
However, since I bought it less for style or argument and more to get a baseline, I can't complain too much about what I got.
The important myths are described, and a brief survey is given of the types of stories found in the various traditions. The focus is Shinto, and very few Buddhist stories appear. It's a good first week introduction to a survey course to Japanese mythology, but lacks depth. I don't feel robbed, since I bought it at 70% off and it is an attractive book, but it's not good for a serious study.
To be honest, I was hoping for something like the old D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths that I enjoyed so much as a child, only with a more adult point of view. However, this isn't much like that. There is, in fact, little narrative. The book is more a report, like a college freshman would write if he were required to write a 200 page paper. The style is dry, there isn't much of a conclusion, and it's far from comprehensive.
However, since I bought it less for style or argument and more to get a baseline, I can't complain too much about what I got.
The important myths are described, and a brief survey is given of the types of stories found in the various traditions. The focus is Shinto, and very few Buddhist stories appear. It's a good first week introduction to a survey course to Japanese mythology, but lacks depth. I don't feel robbed, since I bought it at 70% off and it is an attractive book, but it's not good for a serious study.
October 12, 2025
Another nice mix of culture and myth.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews