THE ARCHETYPE OF THE “SAGE” AND THE MODEL OF THE “IDEAL SOCIETY” IN THE DYSTOPIAN WORLD OF SHINSEKAI YORI: A READING EXPERIENCE (Part 1)
THE ARCHETYPE OF THE “SAGE” AND THE MODEL OF THE “IDEAL SOCIETY” IN THE DYSTOPIAN WORLD OF SHINSEKAI YORI: A READING EXPERIENCE (Part 1)

Summary/Abstract: This article (Part I of a two-part study) explores the archetype of the Sage in anime through a theoretical framework grounded in Jungian analytical psychology and comparative mythology. It examines how Eastern and Western traditions conceptualize wisdom, particularly within mentor–disciple dynamics, and analyses the transformation of the Sage figure in contemporary Japanese popular culture. Part I focuses on the conceptual foundations of the Sage archetype, including its mythological origins, symbolic functions, and the evolving representation of female wisdom. Special attention is given to the relationship between wisdom, self-control, and the balance between rationality and emotional intelligence. Part II of the study (which will be published in the following issue of this journal) applies this theoretical framework to a detailed analysis of Shinsekai Yori, demonstrating how the anime reconfigures the Sage archetype within a dystopian narrative structure. Ultimately, the study reveals that wisdom in anime is portrayed as an ongoing process rather than a fixed state.

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