Donne e spazi sacri in Giappone: culto e miniature del Fuji a Edo

A study reveals that the centuries-old practice of excluding women from sacred sites (nyonin kekkai) began to dissolve in Japan around a decade before its formal abolition in 1872, particularly within the cult of Mt. Fuji during Edo period. This shift was marked by the emergence of miniature Fuji replicas (Fujizuka), which allowed both men and women to engage in climbing rituals, while women increasingly defied restrictions by pilgriming to the real mountain and attempting summits. The research highlights how social norms around female impurity began to erode, though lingering attitudes persisted even after legal changes. The study combines historical analysis with cultural critique to explore these dynamics.

Caroli, R. (2022). Donne e spazi sacri in Giappone: culto e miniature del Fuji a Edo. Storia Delle Donne, 17, 27–59. https://doi.org/10.36253/sd-13452