ISSN 2736-1578
African Journal of Gender and Women Studies ISSN 2736-1578 Vol. 1 (2), pp. 001-014, February, 2016. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Ecological stress and deritualization in East Asia: Ritual practices during dark age phases
Daniel Sarabia1* and J. David Knottnerus2
1Department of Sociology, Roanoke College, 221 College Lane, Salem, VA 24153. (540) 375-2220 USA.
2Department of Sociology, Oklahoma State University, CLB 006, Stillwater, OK 74078 USA.
Accepted 21 October, 2015
Abstract
Despite highlighting the implications of resource over utilization and scarcity on social systems, recent studies under explore the impact of environmental stress on culture. Specifically, further research is needed to understand the importance of natural resources for ritual practices. This study utilizes struc-tural ritualization theory to analyze historical periods characterized by ecological degradation and deri-tualization. The period examined corresponds to the former and latter Han Dynasties, a moment in time that saw the first universal history of China written and where discussion of ritual appears prominently in historical documents. In addition to primary texts, secondary sources are used to examine derituali-zation and the continuity, abandonment, and emergence of new ritual practices. The results demon-strate that despite periods of resource unavailability social rituals survive. By tracing the introduction of Chinese ceramics and burial practices into the Korean peninsula and Japan, we see the strategies human communities employ when they can no longer obtain needed materials to practice specific rituals.
Key words: Structural ritualization, environment, dark ages, ritual.