Description and Interpretation of Rituals from China, India, and Japan

      Using a methodological approach for each ritual describe and interpret each ritual- Ancestor Worship: Religionist Approach Puja Ritual: Reductionist Approach Hadaka Matsu'i: Personal Approach (Reductionist) Describe the three rituals chosen, providing hard data on each from primary or seconday sou'ces- Include the religion to which the ritual belongs, the place where the ritual occu's, and other basic facts, such as the number of participants, the leader(s) of the ritual, and so forth- The religionist methodological approach views religious study as a class of its own- Religionists focus their studies on symbols, myths, and rituals that involve the sacred- The overall resea'ch is based on interaction between humans and the cosmic unknown- For this approach, apply Eliade’s idea of the hierophany breaking through from the sacred world to the profane world- You might include questions such as, (a) What religious symbols are used in this ritual, and what is their meaning to the participants?, (b) What ritual actions performed by the people (or religious specialist) are supposed to prolong a hierophany or kratophany?, and (c) What are some of the religious experiences had by participants in the ritual? How might these reflect the mysterium tremendum and the mysterium fascinans?