Shintoism Books

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Book SynopsisChronicles the mythical origins of Japan's islands and their ruling dynasty through a diverse array of genealogies, tales, and songsTrade ReviewAn accomplished and approachable translation of a crucially important work that has been desperately in need of such a new rendition. -- David Lurie, Columbia University A translation of the Kojiki that is accurate and faithful to the original and at the same time exciting to read. A key element of the Kojiki mythology is the power of naming, and Heldt's decision to translate the names of its various gods and royal figures has brought the narrative alive in a way that it has never been before in English. -- Torquil Duthie, University of California, Los Angeles Heldt's new, complete, and contemporary translation brings vibrancy and clarity to this often politicized work of ancient Japan. The poetry is rendered exquisitely, the narratives unfold with clarity; the translation itself is at once impeccable and imaginative. A master work that will generate discussions far into the future. -- James E. Ketelaar, University of Chicago The Kojiki has a lot to interest those with a strong passion for Japanese literature... an essential read if you have more than a superficial interest in the culture. Tony's Reading List For the reader willing to surrender his or her empirical insistencies - to luxuriate in the beauty of language - the Kojiki is time well spent. The Japan Times The first time a translator has gone so far as to translate the names of the spirits, rulers, and places, an addition that makes the text infinitely more meaningful. CHOICE This rich and accessible translation will be welcomed by specialists and students alike, and will no doubt invite renewed interest in the Kojiki as literature in the English reading audience. -- Ann Wehmeyer H-Asia Gustav Heldt's translation of the Kojiki provides the English-speaking reader with the easiest access to Japan's oldest extant book. Japanese Journal of Religious StudiesTable of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction Preface Book One The First Generations of Spirits Izanagi and Izanami Amaterasu and Susa-no-o Okuni-nushi Hiko-ho-no-ninigi Ho-deri and Hoho-demi Book Two Sovereign Jinmu Sovereign Suisei Sovereign Annei Sovereign Itoku Sovereign Kosho Sovereign Koan Sovereign Korei Sovereign Kogen Sovereign Kaika Sovereign Sujin Sovereign Suinin Sovereign Keiko Sovereign Seimu Sovereign Chuai Sovereign Ojin Book Three Sovereign Nintoku Sovereign Richu Sovereign Hanzei Sovereign Ingyo Sovereign Anko Sovereign Yuryaku Sovereign Seinei Sovereign Kenzo Sovereign Ninken Sovereign Buretsu Sovereign Keitai Sovereign Ankan Sovereign Senka Sovereign Kinmei Sovereign Bidatsu Sovereign Yomei Sovereign Sushun Sovereign Suiko Glossary of General Terms Glossary of Personal Names Glossary of Place Names Map 1. Ancient Lands of Yamato Japan Map 2. Central Yamato Bibliography

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Book SynopsisThis accessible guide to the development of Japan's indigenous religion from ancient times to the present day offers an illuminating introduction to the myths, sites and rituals of kami worship, and their role in Shinto's enduring religious identity.Trade Review“It is a measure of the book’s achievement that it has managed to introduce such scholarly notions in a way that is at once accessible and instructive. Even those skeptical about its claims would have to admit the solidity of the research, and the book renders valuable service by opening up debate about Shinto’s origins to a general readership. Its influence is likely to be long lasting.” (Japan Review, 2012) "Breen and Teeuwen offer a postmodern, historical exposition of Shinto. In addition to independent research, they draw on a wide field of contemporary Japanese Shinto studies . . . The book is thus not only a result of solid academic work-it is also an ambitious political assessment." (Japanese Journal of Religious Studies, 2010) "But for anyone interested in Shinto studies, religion and nationalism, and the contested and ever-changing nature of religious traditions, this is an essential read." (Religious Studies Review, 1 March 2011) "Written by two scholars at the forefront of the study of Japanese religions, this book offers much more than a ‘brief history’. It is in fact a very bold and lucid attempt to redraw the parameters that govern our understanding of that elusive body of thought and practice we call Shinto … This book will surprise and on occasion shock; it will surely be required reading for all those interested in Japan and the Japanese." --Richard Bowring, Professor of Japanese Studies, University of CambridgeTable of ContentsList of Illustrations vi Conventions and Abbreviations Used in the Text vii Prologue ix 1 An Alternative Approach to the History of Shinto 1 2 Kami Shrines, Myths, and Rituals in Premodern Times 24 3 The History of a Shrine: Hie 66 4 The History of a Myth: The Sun-Goddess and the Rock-Cave 129 5 The Daijōsai: A “Shinto” Rite of Imperial Accession 168 6 Issues in Contemporary Shinto 199 Conclusion 221 Notes 229 References 242 Index 253

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Book SynopsisShinto 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 improve the present. Central to Shinto is Kannagara or the intuitive acceptance of the divine power contained in all living things. Dai Shizen (Great Nature) is the life force with which we ally ourselves through spiritual practice and living simply. This is not asceticism but an affirmation of all aspects of life. Musubi (organic growth) provides a model for reconciling ancient intuition with modern science and modern society with primal human needs. Shinto is an unbroken indigenous path that now reaches beyond its native Japan. It has special relevance to us as we seek a more balanced and fulfilled way of life.Trade ReviewThis exceptional and timely book brings the primal wisdom of Japan into the global arena. Shinto offers a message of hope to humanity and all life on this planet. (Paul de Leeuw, Kannushi (Shinto Master) and Director of the Japanese Dutch Shinzen Foundation)

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Book SynopsisMeanings of Antiquity is the first dedicated study of how the oldest Japanese myths, recorded in the eighth-century texts Kojiki and Nihon shoki, changed in meaning and significance between 800 and 1800 CE. Matthieu Felt identifies the geographical, cosmological, epistemological, and semiotic changes that led to new adaptations of Japanese myths.

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Book SynopsisAn attempt to understand Shinto's continuing relevance to the cultural identity of contemporary Japanese. Through an investigation of one of Japan's venerated Shinto shrines, it addresses what appears to western eyes to be an exotic and incongruous blend of superstition and reason.

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Book SynopsisAlthough most historical and contemporary religions are governed by men, there are, scattered throughout the world, a handful of well-documented religions led by women. Most of these are marginal, subordinate, or secondary religions in the societies in which they are located. The one known exception to this rule is the indigenous religion of Okinawa, where women lead the official mainstream religion of the society. In this fieldwork-based study, Susan Sered provides the first in-depth look at this unique religious tradition, exploring the intersection between religion and gender. In addition to providing important information on this remarkable and little-studied group, this book helps to overturn our mostly unexamined assumptions that male dominance of the religious sphere is universal, axiomatic, and necessary.Table of ContentsIntroduction Prologue: Okinawan History, Henza Village, and `nthodology Part I: Divine Dis-order 1: Divine Dis-order: On Social Planes 2: Divine Dis-order: On Cosmological Planes Part II: Questions of Gender 3: Gender in an Egalitarian Society 4: Gender Separation and Social Integration 5: Women and Men and Ritual Part III: Sitting in the Seat of the Gods 6: Priestesses and Ritual: Feeding the Kami-sama 7: Divine Dis-order: Signs, Symptoms, and Sitting in the Right Seat 8: Born to Be Kami-sama Part IV: Questions of Power 9: The Problematics of Power 10: Priestesses, Yuta, and Ogami People Part V: Deconstructing Gender 11: Un-gendering Religious Discourse 12: Gender Bending(?) and Ritual Deconstruction Conclusion: Religion, Power, and the Sanctification of Gender Appendixes: 1. Glossary of Japanese and Okinawan Words 2. Dramatis Personae Notes References Index

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisAike P. Rots is Associate Professor of Contemporary Japanese Culture at the University of Oslo, Norway.Trade ReviewA nuanced study that is historically informed while remaining timely ... Rots’ prose is clear, his attention to detail, history, and nuance replete, and his interventions timely. Shinto, Nature and Ideology in Contemporary Japan is a trans-disciplinary work that sheds light on subject matter often mischaracterized by scholars without the proper background. * Journal of Religion in Japan *A significant and valuable contribution to the fields of religious studies, Japanese studies, Shinto studies, and Asian studies generally ... [It] provides the kind of thorough, fair, and at times sharply critical exposé of contentious issues pulsing through current shrine Shinto and Japanese nationalism. * Contemporary Japan *Provides an insightful approach to understanding Shinto’s discursive profile in contemporary Japan ... Effectively combining discourse analysis with ethnographic field work, Rots argues that Shinto has shed its strong association with prewar militarism by embracing conceptions of “nature” and “environmental sustainability.” * Journal of Japanese Studies *[T]his book does full justice to its title and succeeds in presenting the first systematic and exhaustive study not only to discuss the Shinto environmentalist paradigm as an intellectual object but also to trace its concrete development in contemporary Japan. Through his focus on sacred shrine forests, Rots provides a finely nuanced portrait of the ecological discourses and practices produced by a wide range of individuals and organizations related to the Shinto world. * Monumenta Nipponica *[W]ell researched, highly informative, and thought provoking. * Asian Ethnology *A comprehensive overview … [Aike P. Rots] focuses not only on what these paradigms say but also what they leave out, and how they relate to actual practices and campaigns at the local and national levels. He is generous with his sources but pays attention to the distance between their rhetoric and reality. * Reading Religion *The book does a great service for acknowledging religion’s crucial role in our thinking and caring about the environment. Warmly recommended. * Religious Studies Review *Shinto’s latest iteration as a “green religion” is critically examined in this timely volume. Is the new environmental paradigm a rebranding strategy aimed at gaining legitimacy? Can Shinto activism expand beyond local preservation activities to engage national and global issues? How is it related to the imperial-ethnic paradigms, which define the Shinto establishment’s neonationalistic political agenda? These questions and more are seriously engaged here. * Mark R. Mullins, Professor of Japanese Studies, University of Auckland, New Zealand *In this illuminating book, Aike Rots critically analyses the much-vaunted image of Shinto as a 'nature religion' promoting environmentalism, showing that Shinto environmentalism is infused with themes of nationalism and full of ambiguities. As he demonstrates, Shinto 'sacred forests' that are depicted as manifestations of the natural world may be highly manufactured, while the shrines that promote them may take sponsorship from businesses involved in environmentally-damaging activities. * Ian Reader, Professor Emeritus, The University of Manchester, UK *This well-researched analysis of the “Shinto environmentalist paradigm” centred on “sacred forests” (chinju no mori) makes an important and timely contribution to the study of religion in Japan and to current debates regarding Shinto ideology. * Erica Baffelli, Senior Lecturer in Japanese Studies, University of Manchester, UK *Table of ContentsPreface List of figures Note on style 1. Introduction 2. Defining Shinto 3. Love of nature 4. The Shinto environmentalist paradigm 5. Chinju no mori 6. Landscapes of the past 7. Forests for the future 8. Acorns for Tohoku 9. Going green, going global Conclusion Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisEl Nihon Shoki, también conocido como el Libro de los Registros de Japón, es una obra fundamental que revela la historia mítica y política de Japón, desde sus orígenes divinos hasta el establecimiento de la dinastía imperial. En este libro, exploramos las narrativas ricas y detalladas que moldearon la visión del país sobre sus orígenes, abordando los mitos fundacionales, la genealogía de los emperadores y los primeros contactos con las naciones vecinas. A través de un análisis profundo, serás transportado a los momentos cruciales de la historia antigua de Japón, descubriendo cómo el Nihon Shoki ayudó a consolidar la autoridad imperial y a establecer los pilares de la cultura japonesa.Este libro ofrece una visión única sobre la formación de Japón como nación y las influencias que moldearon su estructura política, social y religiosa. Al comprender los relatos y enseñanzas contenidas en el Nihon Shoki, descubrirás no solo los orígenes mitológicos, sino también cómo estos registros moldearon la identidad cultural y espiritual de Japón a lo largo de los siglos. Para todos aquellos que tienen interés en la historia japonesa, la mitología y la construcción de un imperio que aún resuena en la contemporaneidad, este libro es una lectura esencial y fascinante.

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Book SynopsisThis accessible guide to the development of Japan's indigenous religion from ancient times to the present day offers an illuminating introduction to the myths, sites and rituals of kami worship, and their role in Shinto's enduring religious identity.Trade Review“It is a measure of the book’s achievement that it has managed to introduce such scholarly notions in a way that is at once accessible and instructive. Even those skeptical about its claims would have to admit the solidity of the research, and the book renders valuable service by opening up debate about Shinto’s origins to a general readership. Its influence is likely to be long lasting.” (Japan Review, 2012) "Breen and Teeuwen offer a postmodern, historical exposition of Shinto. In addition to independent research, they draw on a wide field of contemporary Japanese Shinto studies . . . The book is thus not only a result of solid academic work-it is also an ambitious political assessment." (Japanese Journal of Religious Studies, 2010) "But for anyone interested in Shinto studies, religion and nationalism, and the contested and ever-changing nature of religious traditions, this is an essential read." (Religious Studies Review, 1 March 2011) "Written by two scholars at the forefront of the study of Japanese religions, this book offers much more than a ‘brief history’. It is in fact a very bold and lucid attempt to redraw the parameters that govern our understanding of that elusive body of thought and practice we call Shinto … This book will surprise and on occasion shock; it will surely be required reading for all those interested in Japan and the Japanese." --Richard Bowring, Professor of Japanese Studies, University of Cambridge Table of ContentsList of Illustrations vi Conventions and Abbreviations Used in the Text vii Prologue ix 1 An Alternative Approach to the History of Shinto 1 2 Kami Shrines, Myths, and Rituals in Premodern Times 24 3 The History of a Shrine: Hie 66 4 The History of a Myth: The Sun-Goddess and the Rock-Cave 129 5 The Daijo-sai: A "Shinto" Rite of Imperial Accession 168 6 Issues in Contemporary Shinto 199 Conclusion 221 Notes 229 References 242 Index 253

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Book Synopsis"Simple Guides Shinto" provides a concise and accessible introduction to Shinto. Written without bias, this guide presents engaging descriptions of the key concepts, beliefs and practices. Pocket sized and presented in an accessible format with clearly organised topics, enabling you to quickly grasp the essence of Shinto. This guide is a reliable point of reference for further exploration and discovery.

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Book SynopsisDescribes the ritual cycle at Suwa Shrine, Nagasaki's major Shinto shrineTable of ContentsA Year in the Life of a Shinto Shrine Acknowledgments Conventions 1. Frames and Focuses 2. Historical Momentums 3. The Kami 4. Ritual and Ceremony: An Overview 5. Finding the Measure 6. Head Priest Uesugi Spring 7. Beans versus Demons 8. On Becoming a Priest: Matsumoto-san's Version 9. Backstage at the Doll's Day Festival 10. Judgement by Scalding Water 11. Festival for Fecundity Summer 12. Being Dirty, Getting Clean, and the Ritual of Great Purification 13. "I Shouldn't Be Telling You This, But…" 14. A Woman's Place Is the Shrine Autumn 15. Okunchi: A City's Heart and Soul 16. Children and Silk 17. Thanksgiving for New Rice Winter 18. On Spirit, Geomancy, and Sake 19. Sanctifying the Earth 20. Three Rites for Enduring and Beginning the Year 21. To Be an Adult Conclusion Appendix 1: The Rituals and Festivals of Suwa Shrine Appendix 2: Map and Guide to the Shrine Precincts Notes Glossary of Japanese Terms Works Cited Index

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Book SynopsisAn exploration of the rich complexity of the worship of the deity Inari in contemporary Japan. The work covers institutional and popular power in religion, the personal meaningfulness of religious figures and the communicative styles that preserve homogeneity in the face of factionalism.

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Book SynopsisShinto is presented as a nature religion, an imperial state religion, a primal religion, or a folk amalgam of practices and beliefs. Thomas Kasulis' approach to Shinto explains with clarity and economy how these different aspects interrelate

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Book SynopsisOf Japan's two great religious traditions, Shinto is far less known and understood in the West. Although there are a number of books that explain the religion and its philosophy, this work is the first in English to focus on sites where Shinto has been practised since the dawn of Japanese history.

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Book SynopsisJapanâs tradition of Shugendo has long been an object of fascination and intrigue among scholars and the general public, yet its historical development remains an enigma. A Path into the Mountains offers a provocative reexamination of the complex social, economic, and spiritual terrain from which this mountain religious system arose.

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