The Masks of God, Vol. 2: Oriental Mythology by Joseph Campbell
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Book Reviews of The Masks of God, Vol. 2: Oriental Mythology
Book Review: The Great Orient
Summary: 5 Stars
In this book Campbell has covered the entire fieldfrom Ancient Egypt via pre-Buddhist, Buddhist & post-Buddhist
India to China, Japan & Tibet.
Apart from a multitude of references, citations and amusing
legends illustrating his nominal concern (Mythologies)-the
center of this book (a part of "The Masks of God" tetralogy)
lies elsewhere. Essentailly, all Campbell's work (and "Oriental
Mythology", with its chapter 1 "Signatures of the four great
domains", is a particularly good example) is a predominantly
Jungian (with a few Freudian insights assimilated) comparative
analysis of the dominant traditional mindsets.
For instance, he sharply differentiates between two
"Western" archetypes (Jung again) & "loyalties":
1.Promethean hero-the Greco-Roman legacy
of ever-expanding and conquering being
2.Job-the Levantine legacy transmuted into Christianity
Or, "Eastern" loyalties of:
3.Yogi- ascetic absorbed in transcosmic cataleptic trance, as the "trademark" of India
4.Sage-essentially the Chinese ideal of harmony ("flowing" with Tao, or realizing
one's tao in society (Confucians))
Be as it may, this is a treasure trove of ideas, associations & insights.
I haven't encountered any richer or profounder work of late.
And, as a ghastly surprise, book ends with factual report on Chinese
communist invasion of Tibet (mutilations, castrations, sterilizations,
public executions & humiliations), as all the horrors from the "Bardo Thodhol"
have descended on our earthly reality. A horrendous reminder that
mythologies are not dead, dated nor irrelevant.
Book Review: The Inscrutable Orient is Explained
Summary: 5 Stars
In this second volume of the "Mask" Trilogy, Campbell has moved from the perhistorical to historical. There is and has always been a great divide between the Occident and the Orient on matters of faith and Campbell thinks this has a lot to do with the mythical origins underlying all cultures and religions. Oddly, he begins in Egypt which eventually approached the Occidental viewpoint. But it is in the deserts of that ancient land that we begin with the ideas being set by the changeless seasons and the Nile.Next a study of Buddhist, Hindu and other Oriental religions is undertaken. Somewhere along the line, East and West diverged on the issue of religious thought. One might say that Oriental belief systems harken back to the primitive in that multiple gods, representing various emotions, objects or ideas, were the norm. This was the way of ancient Greece and Egypt but both societies soon "evolved" toward a semi-monotheism or gave life to sects (ancient Judaism) that adopted the single god notion.
Of the three, this book was the hardest to comprehend, perhaps due to the foreign names. Still, it is a testament to the monumental research and innovative ideas of the author.
Book Review: Campbell: The CSI Of Mythology
Summary: 5 Stars
This wonderful book kept me awake more nights than I care to admit. As another reviewer previously noted, I to, often found it helpful to stop at certain points in the book. I enjoyed reflecting upon and contemplating Cambells focused mythological insight. I found the inclusion of Eygpt and Mesopotamia as entrance points exemplifying the origin of the split between the Oriental and Occidental rewarding and compelling. That's what I've always enjoyed about Campbell. Expect the unexpected! He'd have wanted it no other way I believe. Of the three volumes, I personally found Vol 2 "The Masks of God" the most interesting for me.Book Review: The Masks of God
Summary: 5 Stars
Joseph Campbell was possibly the most erudite figure of the twentieth century. His ground-breaking studies in anthropology inspired a whole generation of readers - including George Lucas, who based his initial Star Wars movie upon Campbell's "The Hero of a Thousand Faces".
The four volumes of "The Masks of God" lead one through an oddysey of human interconnections.
"Tne Masks of God" is recommended to any who are willing to recognise our common heritage.
Book Review: Amazing grace
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the most impressive book I've ever read about mythology.Just buy it, and let it introduce you in a new world,full of spiritual knowledge.
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