The Great Loochoo: A Study of Okinawan Village Life explores the intricate relationships between culture, environment, and historical evolution in Okinawa. Rooted in themes spanning centuries of cultural anthropology, the study underscores the interplay of human agency and natural environments. Historically, classical thinkers like Herodotus and Strabo speculated on cultural differences as products of environment, customs, and chance. This inquiry into cultural variation gained momentum in the 18th and 19th centuries through philosophers and travelers such as Montesquieu and Humboldt, culminating in Darwin’s evolutionary perspectives. The 20th century saw increased specialization, moving away from grand generalizations to detailed examinations of culture traits, emphasizing ecological thinking and the dynamic modification of environments by human activity.
This work situates Okinawan culture within this intellectual lineage, emphasizing the central role of the family system and inheritance in shaping land use and environmental adaptation. The dependence of Okinawan villages on plants for food, shelter, tools, and other daily needs reflects a deeply ingrained ecological connection. While examining three villages, the study highlights how historical and environmental changes have influenced cultural practices. It challenges the notion of a static ‘unchanging East, ‘ illustrating instead a culture continuously shaped by internal dynamics and external forces. By blending social and natural sciences, this study provides insights into the adaptive strategies of Okinawan villagers, shedding light on a culture that balances tradition and transformation within the broader context of Southeast Asian environmental history.
This title is part of UC Press’s Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1955.
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