Caged in on the Outside is an intimate ethnographic exploration of the ways in which Minangkabau people understand human value. Minangkabau; an Islamic society in Indonesia that is also the largest matrilineal society in the world; has long fascinated anthropologists. Gregory Simon’s book; based on extended ethnographic research in the small city of Bukittinggi; shines new light on Minangkabau social life by delving into people’s interior lives; calling into question many assumptions about Southeast Asian values and the nature of Islamic practice. It offers a deeply human portrait that will engage readers interested in Indonesia; Islam; and psychological anthropology and those concerned with how human beings fashion and reflect on the moral meanings of their lives.Simon focuses on the tension between the values of social integration and individual autonomy―both of which are celebrated in this Islamic trading society. The book explores a series of ethnographic themes; each one illustrating a facet of this tension and its management in contemporary Minangkabau society: the moral structure of the city and its economic life; the nature of Minangkabau ethnic identity; the etiquette of everyday interactions; conceptions of self and its boundaries; hidden spaces of personal identity; and engagements with Islamic traditions. Simon draws on interviews with Minangkabau men and women; demonstrating how individuals engage with cultural forms and refashion them in the process: forms of etiquette are transformed into a series of symbols tattooed on and then erased from a man’s skin; a woman shares a poem expressing an identity rooted in what cannot be directly revealed; a man puzzles over his neglect of Islamic prayers that have the power to bring him happiness.Applying the lessons of the Minangkabau case more broadly to debates on moral life and subjectivity; Simon makes the case that a deep understanding of moral conceptions and practices; including those of Islam; can never be reached simply by delineating their abstract logics or the public messages they send. Instead; we must examine the subtle meanings these conceptions and practices have for the people who live them and how they interact with the enduring tensions of multidimensional human selves. Borrowing a Minangkabau saying; he maintains that whether emerging in moments of suffering or flourishing; moral subjectivity is always complex; organized by ambitions as elusive as being “caged in on the outside.â€
#1749619 in Books University of Hawaii Press 2002-04-30 2002-04-30Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.21 x .55 x 6.14l; .83 #File Name: 0824826205264 pages
Review
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful. The narrative feels more like a story than an academic tomeBy c.a. leibowWow. For any one who wants to understand the origins and the context in which Jodo Shinshu came to be; this is the book. Well written and documented. The narrative feels more like a story than an academic tome. I still go back to it from time to time.12 of 15 people found the following review helpful. Excellent analysis of the development of Joudo ShinshuuBy A CustomerThe book provides detailed and profound information on the development of the Joudo Shinshuu sect of Japanese buddhism; which is the biggest of Japan's buddhist sects today and also the one whose beliefs arguably bear the most resemblance to those of Christianity. The orthodox view of Joudo history held by the members of the sect itself is covered as well as the "historical" view through the eyes of the scholar. The important - that is to say unique - parts of the Joudo belief are covered in detail; especially the process of the establishment of Amida as a kind of saviour whose mercy paves those who rely upon him the way to rebirth in the Pure Land - in sharp contrast to other sects of buddhism; which focus upon satori (enlightenment) through one's own efforts - mainly meditation (jou); study (e) and the strict observance of the rules for buddhist monks (kai). The evolution of Joudo belief and organization from the time of its founders Hounen and Shinran through the middle ages is also looked at in detail.Overall a convincing analysis of this interesting Japanese sect by a renowned scholar; aiming at an audience of scholars and people interested in facts and solid argumentation instead of mainstream esoteric ballyhoo.
