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Bibliographic Data: Barnes, Gina L. State Formation in Japan: Emergence of a 4th-Century Ruling Elite. London: Routledge, 2007.
Main Argument: Barnes is attempting to "reposition the discussion of state formation in Japan from an exclusively internal developmental viewpoint to one which takes into account the location and role of Japan with East Asian protohistory" (xv), and her main theme is "the process of social stratification in creating a body of elite rulers throughout the central and western Japanese islands" (xiv), attempting in this book to incorporate the most recent developments in Japanese archaeology.
Historiographical Engagement: Barnes knows the archaeology way better than I ever will; her primary theoretical engagement is with (of all things) Immanuel Wallerstein. One wishes she had read Ken Pomeranz.
( State formation in Japan )
Critical assessment: This is, I think, a fine book. Barnes is up to date on all the latest archaeological findings and has a coherent theoretical viewpoint, which are very welcome, as is her desire to use critically all available forms of evidence. The details of her Miwa Court cult hypothesis seem a little strained, but it is only a hypothesis, and the rest of the book is a wealth of information as well.
Meta notes: NB: hime/hiko seems to have been the titles for the female/male pair rulers of early Japan.
Main Argument: Barnes is attempting to "reposition the discussion of state formation in Japan from an exclusively internal developmental viewpoint to one which takes into account the location and role of Japan with East Asian protohistory" (xv), and her main theme is "the process of social stratification in creating a body of elite rulers throughout the central and western Japanese islands" (xiv), attempting in this book to incorporate the most recent developments in Japanese archaeology.
Historiographical Engagement: Barnes knows the archaeology way better than I ever will; her primary theoretical engagement is with (of all things) Immanuel Wallerstein. One wishes she had read Ken Pomeranz.
( State formation in Japan )
Critical assessment: This is, I think, a fine book. Barnes is up to date on all the latest archaeological findings and has a coherent theoretical viewpoint, which are very welcome, as is her desire to use critically all available forms of evidence. The details of her Miwa Court cult hypothesis seem a little strained, but it is only a hypothesis, and the rest of the book is a wealth of information as well.
Meta notes: NB: hime/hiko seems to have been the titles for the female/male pair rulers of early Japan.