Légitimités, légitimations. La construction de l'autorité au Japon

This volume brings together contributions by Japanese and Western scholars in the social sciences -religious studies, ethnology, economics, history, political philosophy- on issues related to legitimacy and legitimizacion processes in Japan, from the medieval period up to modern times. Legitimacy, according to the French historian Pierre Legendre, is 'the power upon which power is built', yet classical Western de?nitions of the word may not apply in the same way in East Asian societies. How far were Japanese conceptions of legitimacy shaped by Chinese categories and notions? Is there a speci?c de?nition of legitimacy in Japan? How was religious legitimacy de?ned among competing denominations and movements? How far does this legacy still inform modern constructions of legitimacy in Japan? This volume is a ?rst attempt at a general survey of Japanese conceptions of legitimacy and of their implications in the shaping of Japanese society.