Stratification in Cultural Contexts is a collection drawn from research
results of the East Asian Division of the Center for the Study of Social
Stratification and Inequality at Tohoku University. In this book,
scholars who specialize in areas of East and Southeast Asia examine how
the problem of stratification manifests itself in different cultural and
historical contexts, discussing when and in what circumstances the
problem of stratification has become more serious, and suggesting how
the tension could be eased. The topics dealt with are diversified, from
religion to economic concerns. The local wisdom of traditional societies
is used to analyze inequality and stratification in cases such as the
phenomenon of 'religious revival' following democratization in Mongolian
society, the lives of 'slaves' under the Choson dynasty in Korea, and
the role of warrior-class women in early-modern Japan. This volume
provides a strong step on the way to further studies of stratification
and inequality in cultural contexts. (Series: Stratification and
Inequality - Vol. 15)