![]() As such, “unexplainable” natural phenomena were often attributed to acts of this supernatural being. ![]() ![]() First, the trickster’s shape-shifting tendencies and powers of illusion contribute to a sense of “uncannyness” and tie the tanuki to the mysterious and unknown. In my research, I have identified three primary functions. Show more In this thesis, I will explain how the tanuki can be seen as an example of a mythological “trickster” (a paradoxical figure who combines god-like powers with a chaotic nature and a love for deceiving and general trickery) and how these trickster tendencies function within different forms of Japanese popular imagination such as art and literature. Lastly, the duality behind the trickster also makes him the perfect mediator between two polar opposites. The tanuki is no exception to this, as seen in folktales and Edo-era artwork. Secondly, the foolishness of the trickster figure makes it an excellent character for comedic and/or satirical works. ![]() Functions of the tanuki as a trickster in Japanese popular imagination Master thesis | Asian Studies (60 EC) (MA) In this thesis, I will explain how the tanuki can be seen as an example of a mythological “trickster” (a paradoxical figure who combines god-like powers with a chaotic nature and a love for deceiving and general trickery) and how these trickster tendencies function within different forms of Japanese popular imagination such as art and literature. ![]()
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