If I remember my world religions classes correctly, there are three
main categories of religions.
A) animistic -- like shinto they see spirits living in every day
objects, also Paganism?
B) poly-theistic -- many gods (like Hinduism)
C) mono-theistic -- one god (like Judaism/Xianity/Islam)
Consider how much energy Christianity spent suppressing Paganism,
Roman mythology, and other poly and animistic religions I guess it's
not surprising that animism makes people uncomfortable (at least
where I live). Or at a minimum, silly.
I agree with you that there's a strong relationship between ubicomp
and animism. Where everyday objects become endowed with intelligence,
maybe even spirit?
So, if that attitude is different in Japan, maybe it would help them
adopt it faster/more comfortably than other places.
--simon
--
Simon Woodside - Founder - Semacode Corporation - http://semacode.com
On Mar 24, 2007, at 3:53 AM, Robert Ness wrote:
> We are a mobile marketing startup in China. One of our principals
> conducts
> research on the cultural trends in network technology in China.
> Recently
> some of that work has brushed up against Japanese culture and its
> relationship with ubicomp and lbs, and the result was this memo.
> We would
> love to hear the Keitai-L's communities feedback, for we are no
> where close
> to experts on Japanese culture. Thank you, see below.
> Shintoism's concept of place and things and implications to
> applications of
> ubicomp and location-based mobile technology.
>
> Shinto involves the worship of kami (神), or gods. According to
> Wikipedia,
> "Some kami are local and can be regarded as the spirit or genius of a
> particular place, but other ones represent major natural objects and
> processes". This is a cultural and religious contribution to the
> conversation on the relationship between the virtual world and the
> real.
> Kami can be defined as virtual objects because they cannot be
> perceived
> through the naked senses, but are nonetheless we perceive them
> mentally and
> they have specific qualities in our imaginations. A kami is a body of
> virtual qualities ascribed to a physical object or place.
>
> Locational and object-based characteristics of Shintoism originated in
> shamanic beliefs brought from the Continent (China) and the Korean
> peninsula. At first this was worship of kami who inhabited things.
> Ceremonies were held outside before iwakuras, a small space or
> alter made
> of stones. After the arrival of Buddhism, the idea of building
> "houses"
> for kami arose and shrines were built.
>
> The development of Shintoism has been intertwined with Chinese
> Buddhism as
> well as other Chinese philosophies, and is generally part of the
> Chinese-born idea of a monist nature of existence (天人合一, man
> and nature are
> one) that has influenced many belief systems in East Asia (though
> it should
> be point out that this way of thinking has largely been lost in
> present day
> China).
>
> The most interestingly theme in Shintoism is reverence for nature and
> natural beauty. Thus kami are ascribed to objects and places that are
> striking in their natural beauty. More interestingly, Wikipedia
> quotes, "As
> time went by, the original nature-worshipping roots of the
> religion, while
> never lost entirely, became attenuated and the kami took on more
> reified and
> anthropomorphic forms, with a formidable corpus of myth attached to
> them."
> I feel this implies that kami could easily be perceived in urban
> settings,
> especially with high-tech themes. Moreover, the reification,
> anthropomorphism, and myth have direct implications to digital
> installation,
> and story-based events such as urban gaming.
>
> Modern day Shinto is better viewed as a cultural mindset than as a
> religion. In other words, it is an implicit factor affecting
> behavior,
> rather than an explicit set of goals (such as do something so you
> can get to
> Heaven and avoid Hell). This is highlighted in the fact that
> expressed
> belief in Shinto as a dogmatic religion has declined since the War
> while use
> of Shinto artifacts, participation in ceremonies, and other Shinto
> practices
> have remained popular.
>
> The implication here is a unique cultural openness of the Japanese to
> growing Ubicomp applications. The kami represent a cultural
> precedent for
> ascribing virtual qualities to real objects. The fact that
> Shintoism is a
> way of thinking rather than a dogmatic religion has the potential for
> innovating on Shinto concepts in the design of Ubicomp and location-
> based
> applications without fear of treading on the sacred (although
> sensitivity
> and respect are still required).
> --
> Robert Osazuwa Ness
> mobile: +86.15951775747
> Blog: www.thechinaventure.com
> Podcast: China Businesscast www.danwei.org/danwei_fm
> Skype: robert_ness
> Skype in: +1.717.798.8559
> MSN: robert_ness@hotmail.com
> Mail: Hopkings Nanjing Center,
> Nanjing University, 126 Shanghai Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PRC, 210093
>
>
>
> This mail was sent to address simon@semacode.com
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Received on Fri Apr 27 04:16:50 2007