New Books Network Andrew Bernstein, "Fuji: A Mountain In The Making" (Princeton UP, 2025)
Dec 11, 2025
Andrew Bernstein, a history professor at Lewis & Clark College and author of "Fuji: A Mountain In The Making," delves into the fascinating evolution of Mt. Fuji. He describes its violent volcanic origins and its transformation into Japan’s beloved national symbol. Bernstein discusses early human encounters, poetic references, and changing perceptions of this majestic mountain, revealing its journey from a feared deity to a pilgrimage site. He also touches on its ecological role, cultural significance, and the debates surrounding its World Heritage status.
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Fuji Formed With Humanity
- Mount Fuji is a young stratovolcano that formed alongside humans and reshaped human history rather than merely framing it.
- New Fuji began ~17,000 years ago and became active ~11,000 years ago, with Old Fuji beneath it from ~100,000 years ago.
Early Texts Paint Conflicting Fuji Images
- Early records show Fuji shifting from inhospitable to sacred across the 8th century.
- The Hitachi Fudoki curses Fuji as cold, while the Manyoshu praises it as awe-inspiring and metaphorical in love poetry.
From Fearsome Deity To Parental Mountain
- As Fuji's eruptions calmed, worship shifted from fear to parental and healing imagery.
- Pilgrims treated Fuji as cosmic origin, used caves as womb metaphors, and prized Fuji water for healing and safe childbirth.
