Shinto, the indigenous faith of the Japanese people, continues to fascinate and mystify both the casual visitor to Japan and the long-time resident. This introduction unveils Shinto's spiritual characteristics and discusses the architecture and function of Shinto shrines.

This book will help you appreciate the significance of Japan's own religion in everyday life, recognize the key traditions and festivals of the Shinto year, understand what you will see at Shinto shrines and in Shinto rituals, and gain insights into the controversies surrounding Shinto politics and nationalism. Access the world's religions through this entry in this series of simple guides that provide concise, accessible introductions to the world's...

Distinguished scholar of Japanese religions and culture Helen Hardacre offers the first comprehensive history of Shinto, the ancient and vibrant tradition whose colorful rituals are still practiced today. Under the ideal of Shinto, a divinely descended emperor governs through rituals offered to deities called Kami. These rituals are practiced in innumerable shrines across the realm, so that local rites mirror the monarch's ceremonies. Through this...

Shinto is an ancient faith of forests and snow-capped mountains. It sees the divine in rocks and streams, communing with spirit worlds through bamboo twigs and the evergreen sakaki tree. Yet it is also the manicured suburban garden and the blades of grass between cracks in city paving stones. Structured around ritual cleansing, Shinto contains no concept of sin. It reveres ancestors, but thinks little about the afterlife, asking us to live in, and...

"One of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 1991" Helen Hardacre, a leading scholar of religious life in modern Japan, examines the Japanese state's involvement in and manipulation of shinto from the Meiji Restoration to the present. Nowhere else in modern history do we find so pronounced an example of government sponsorship of a religion as in Japan's support of shinto. How did that sponsorship come about and how was it maintained? How was...

Origins.-The Japanese are in the main a continental race. Their language and physical characteristics show conclusively that they come from Northern Asia, and geographical considerations indicate that Korea must have been their point of embarkation. Indeed a desultory emigration from Korea to Japan continued into historical times. When we say Northern Asia we exclude China. The racial affinity of the Japanese to the Chinese, of which we hear so often,...

Complementing Buddhism, Shinto is Japan's 2,000-year-old worship tradition that celebrates the relationship of humans to the natural world. This modern-day collection of Shinto-inspired devotions shows the reader how to commune directly with Great Nature for health, wisdom, and serenity. Structured litanies address mountains, waterfalls, rocks, trees, etc. Includes instructions for performing authentic "waterfall purification" and a section on experiencing...

Two classic texts essential to understanding Zen Buddhism-its ideas, history, and profound cultural legacy. In Zen Dictionary, theosophist Ernest Wood offers a comprehensive guide to the most important Zen ideas, along with a general history of the growth of Zen in China and Japan. Presenting names and terms in alphabetical order, Zen Dictionary is an ideal reference text for any student of Zen. More than just a survey of Zen and Shinto, Dr....

"Sacred Paths" invites readers to embark on a profound exploration of the origins and beliefs of Shinto and Buddhism in Japan. From the ancient reverence for kami to the enlightenment teachings of the Buddha, the book navigates the intricate tapestry of spiritual traditions that have shaped the cultural identity of Japan. Through vivid storytelling and insightful analysis, readers gain a deep understanding of the interconnectedness, coexistence, and...