First Edition: Image of Natural History 2 Sacred Dance: Encounters with the Gods By David Tinsley Translated by Maria-Gabrielle Voisin Translated by Masashi Ichikawa Heibonsha November 25, 1977, First Edition, 127 pages Slight yellowing and wear due to age, but generally in good condition for its age. This is an old book stored at home, so please refrain from purchasing if you are sensitive to used books. "Myth explains the creation of the world as a 'dance of the gods' set in the universe. 'The dancing god Shiva dances with water, fire, wind, and ether.' The history of dance is as old as the history of humankind. All primal rituals were dances. People danced when they were happy, sad, for love, in fear, or at sunrise, death, and birth. They danced to imitate the gods, to celebrate the gods, and to become one with the creator. Here, we examine Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto dancing in front of the Heavenly Rock Cave, wishing for the rebirth of the sun goddess Amaterasu Omikami, the 'Dance of Jesus' in early Christianity, the Bacchanalia, and the dances of Islamic dervishes, clarifying the relationship between dance, the oldest form of human 'life,' and the deep impulses that support it." (From the cover) Contents: The Universe and Humanity Rituals and Gods Life, Death, and Rebirth Ancestral Spirits Sacred Space Mysteries Symbols and Worship Illustrations Material illustrations and their explanations Sacred Universe / Gestures and Rituals / Animals as Ancestral Spirits / The Role of Priests / Liberation and Ecstasy / Sacrifice, Death, and Rebirth / The Body as a Vessel for Spirits