Rice, Agriculture, and the Food Supply in Premodern Japan

ISBN-13: 9781138099296 / Angielski / Miękka / 2017 / 356 str.

Charlotte Von Verschuer; Wendy Cobcroft

Opis

This book examines the history of agriculture in premodern Japan, dealing with the history of agricultural techniques and the food supply, analysing in detail each of the farming operations from sowing to harvesting and the customs pertaining to consumption. It challenges the widespread theory that rice cultivation has been the basis of "Japaneseness" for two millennia and the foundation of Japanese civilization by focussing on the biodiversity and polycultural traditions of Japan. It will also play a role in the current dialogue on the future of sustainable agriculture from the viewpoints of ecology, biodiversity, dietary culture and food security throughout the world.

Spis treści

Introduction 1. Irrigated rice and dry crops 2. A mountainous environment: shifting cultivation 3. Biodiversity: harvesting of wild plants 4. Food security: how much rice did they eat? 5. Polyculture in premodern Japanese traditions Conclusion