Product Description
This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishing's Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone! ... Read more

Product Description
This 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.

• Offers a unique new approach to Shinto history that combines critical analysis with original research
• Examines key evolutionary moments in the long history of Shinto, including the Meiji Revolution of 1868, and provides the first critical history  in English or Japanese of the Hie shrine, one of the most important in all Japan
• Traces the development of various shrines, myths, and rituals through history as uniquely diverse phenomena, exploring how and when they merged into the modern notion of Shinto that exists in Japan today
• Challenges the historic stereotype of Shinto as the unchanging, all-defining core of Japanese culture

Product Description
Numbered/limited ED (250 copies)1973 Vol. 1 reprint of 1922 Houghton Mifflin Co. ED with pictures (some tipped in) of original 1894 work about Japan's inner life. ... Read more

Product Description
J.W.T. Mason presents rare insight not only into the basic beliefs of Shinto, but also into the importance of mythology and creativity to the evolution of our understanding of life and the universe. Mason begins by establishing his view of the development of man, language, and spiritual expression. Early man had an innate, intuitive understanding of the universe. This understanding was expressed through mythology and ritual. Shinto's traditions and practices still reflect this ancient understanding that all things, living and non-living are of divine spirit. Man is an integral part of Great Nature, Dai Shizen. In Shinto, man seeks to re-establish the natural harmony, to return to the path and rhythm of Great Nature, through prayer, ritual, and daily routines. Mason explains the vitality of Shinto in today's modern world. In this valuable work, the reader will find not only an insightful explanation of Shinto beliefs and ritual, but also a challenge to individuals of any spiritual tradition that their religious experience remain rooted in ancient, intuitive wisdom while simultaneously developing conscious understanding and contemporary expression. ... Read more

Product Description
What we today call Shinto has been at the heart of Japanese culture for almost as long as there has been a political entity distinguishing itself as Japan. "A Year in the Life of a Shinto Shrine" describes the ritual cycle at Suwa Shrine, Nagasaki's major Shinto shrine. Conversations with priests, other shrine personnel, and people attending shrine functions supplement John K. Nelson's observations of over fifty shrine rituals and festivals. He elicits their views on the meaning and personal relevance of the religious events and the place of Shinto and Suwa Shrine in Japanese society, culture, and politics. Nelson focuses on the very human side of an ancient institution and provides a detailed look at beliefs and practices that, although grounded in natural cycles, are nonetheless meaningful in late-twentieth-century Japanese society.Nelson explains the history of Suwa Shrine, basic Shinto concepts, and the Shinto worldview, including a discussion of the Kami, supernatural forces that pervade the universe. He explores the meaning of ritual in Japanese culture and society and examines the symbols, gestures, dances, and meanings of a typical shrine ceremony.He then describes the cycle of activities at the shrine during a calendar year: the seasonal rituals and festivals and the petitionary, propitiary, and rite-of-passage ceremonies performed for individuals and specific groups. Among them are the Dolls' Day festival, in which young women participate in a procession and worship service wearing Heian period costumes; the autumn Okunchi festival, which attracts participants from all over Japan and even brings emigrants home for a visit; the ritual invoking the blessing of the Kami for young children; and the ritual sanctifying the earth before a building is constructed.The author also describes the many roles women play in Shinto and includes an interview with a female priest. Shinto has always been attentive to the protection of communities from unpredictable human and divine forces and has imbued its ritual practices with techniques and strategies to aid human life.By observing the Nagasaki shrine's traditions and rituals, the people who make it work, and their interactions with the community at large, the author shows that cosmologies from the past are still very much a part of the cultural codes utilized by the nation and its people to meet the challenges of today. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Not Just for Academic Use
I've read a lot of academic articles and books in my life, not many of which were just entertaining to read."A Year in the Life ..." provides a good historical background to appreciate and understand contemporary customs, without drowning you in detail.As other reviewers have noted, the personal opinions of the priests along with descriptions of their lives and roles within the Shinto hierarchy are fascinating.

Another aspect of the book I enjoyed very much was the author writing about cultural misunderstandings he had with the priests.One example is when he attended a earth sanctifying ritual and asked which kami manifested itself and the priest just looked at him with a very confused expression on his face.He goes on then to explain the misunderstanding in a very simple yet elegant way.Through anecdotes and explanations like this he manages to convey a very entertaining and interesting view of Shinto.

Behind the scenes at a Shinto Shrine
I would recommend "A Year in the Life of a Shinto Shrine", by John K. Nelson, to anyone with an interest in Shinto and Japanese Culture. The book provides a detailed look at Shinto rituals at Suwa Jinja in Nagasaki, Japan.My favorite chapters were about the purification of a plot of land for a construction company, the great purification ceremony, and ringing in the New Year. The chapters about women at the shrine and how younger Japanese relate to the shrine were also really interesting from a cultural perspective.

"A Year in the Life" contains a wealth of knowledge of interest to the scholar. The book is however, easy to read - as if you were listening to a friend telling a story. A glossary of Japanese terms, end notes, maps of the shrine, and pictures broaden the reader's context and add depth to the narrative.

I really appreciated how the book was arranged in five sections. The first section gives the reader an introduction to the history of the shrine, the kami that the shrine is dedicated to, and the people who make the shrine work.The following four sections, one per season, tell the story of the major rituals at the shrine over the course ofyear.

Each chapter usually begins with a description of the shrine on the day of the ceremony, which allows the reader to understand how they might have felt had they arrived at the shrine for the ritual. This reminded me of my own experiences visiting a shrine in Japan.The description also set the mood for the author's descriptions of the rituals that follow.

Truly understanding Shinto
"A Year in the Life of a Shinto Shrine" is the best book on Shinto that I have ever read, and that is really saying something as I have read a lot of books on Shinto.It is the first book I have seen that puts things in layman's terms while not dumbing down a fairly complicated system of beliefs and cultural practices.

Instead of attempting to interpret the mysteries and cosmology of the inscrutable religion, author John Nelson puts you in the shoes of Shinto practitioners, from the highest ranking priest to the novices, to the casual visitors who drop by.He takes you behind the scenes, showing you what the day-to-day life is of a Shinto priest, what they believe and what they do.The shrine he introduces, Suwa Shrine in Nagasaki, is a fairly major one, with a full calendar of events and rituals.

On top of all this Nelson frames Shinto in its cultural context.It is not simply a religion, something to be believed in and practiced, but it is a sort of societal glue for Japan, something that connects the present to the past and provides a contextual framework that all Japanese people can recognize.It is difficult to understand this element of Shinto, because the very concept of religion is different.

One of the most fascinating sections of this book is the chapter called "I shouldn't be telling you this but..." where he allows several Shinto priests to express their private opinions under the protection of anonymity. It is exactly this kind of human touch that has been missing from all previous books.Shinto is a religion of human beings, and without this necessary voice it loses all context.

Good source for information on Shinto practice
I recently finished reading this book in preparation for a trip I'm taking to Japan in the fall, I will be studying at University for year. I had read a couple of other books about Shinto and found them useful but what I really wanted to read was a book on Shinto practice so when I visit a Shinto Shrine I will have a more complex understanding of what is going on. In a way, this book goes beyond just understanding a Shinto practice it also covers details on things like how to finance a Shrine and how to sit so your legs fall asleep less often etc. I should clarify that this book isn't a travel guide but a well written ethnography, one that primarily focuses on one medium-large Shinto Shrine. In general the book doesn't get to detailed or too hard to read. The author spends some time with theory's and interpretations but mostly focuses on observation. Some of my favorite parts of the book are the interviews with the Guji, he had an interesting life story and some good comparative religion thoughts. Some of the younger priests also have some interesting input, some times complaints. The chapter about a woman Shinto Priest was another highlight. I believe this book would be great for undergraduates, I'm an undergrad in Religious Studies and Philosophy, or for anyone interested in Shinto practice.

The human side of Shinto
For someone interested in the "human" side of Shinto religion, Nelson's book is a fascinating study of a religion little understood by most westerners. Its best to skip the introductory chapters, which are a bit pedantic and dry, and start with the actual description of shrine activities. Nelson is most interesting when talking about the priests and their relationship with Shinto, their "parishioners" and each other. Ultimately, it is this sort of writing that convinces the reader that Shinto is not a bunch of exotic rituals, but has a very real meaning and value in its followers lives. Written in 1996, Nelson poses a number of questions about Shinto's future throughout the book. It would be interesting if a second edition of the book was published updating the reader on the present activities of the shrine and its priests. ... Read more

Product Description
This book presents, for the first time, a collection of ancient Japanese Shinto prayers in a format where English speaking readers can both understand the deep meaning of the translated text and can also pronounce the original Japanese words.

Shinto is an ancient spiritual tradition, primarily practiced in Japan, which is now spreading its traditions to the western world. Its primordial rituals and traditions touch a deep chord within one's spiritual self. Shinto's focus on divinity of all beings and of all creation, on living with gratitude and humility, and on purification and lustration of one's self and environment will bring light and joy to any reader.

The purpose of prayer and ritual as practiced in the Shinto tradition, is to reinsert ourselves into a divine state of being, not as a new position, but as an acknowledgement and reinforcement of what already exists. Ritual restores sensitive awareness to our relationship to the universe. Through purification and removal of impurities and blockages, we return to our innate internal brightness and cultivate a demeanor of gratitude and joy.

Shinto rituals and prayers were created by ancient man over 2,000 years ago in a time when mankind was more intuitive about his relationship to this world. Because of this, the rites are archetypal and invoke deep emotion within the participants.

This book of prayers will introduce the western reader to the deep spirituality of Shinto, providing explanation of the spiritual tradition and practice and providing a collection of 22 prayers for use in personal meditation and devotions. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Do not get this on the first gen Kindle
I got the Kindle edition of this book.The section with the prayers were very difficult to readon the Kindle.Looks like someone scanned the pages--the print of the prayers was much smaller than the print of the introduction.Because this is not the fault of the book itself, I still gave it 4 stars because the readable content was educational--gave me more information on the Shinto religion than I could get elsewhere.

The author was correct, at least in my experience, that a lot of the information on Shintoism is still in Japanese form of writing (kanji/hiragana) and would be daunting for a regular person like myself to tackle.Shintoism is the belief that everything has a spirit and we need to live in harmony with everything.Rocks, trees, etc all have spirits and are important to life. Each of us has part of the god (kami). The Shinto prayers and rituals are one way of connecting to the Divine spirit within.

I will re-read this book on my laptop, using Kindle for PC.Hopefully, the content of the prayers will be legible and then I will update this review.

greet the rising sun
A good compilation of the prayers of Shinto with transliteration however, with no pronouncing guide (and Japanese can be a bit tricky...)
There is a web site listed for those who want to hear the prayers however, it is now run by a por site and it is not reccommended that you go to that site.
The supposed cd that one can purchase seems to be no longer available...
So much for Shinto in the US and Canada...

Exactly what it says it is
This book is exactly what the title says. It is a book of Shinto norito, or prayers.

The book begins by giving some basic understanding of the practice of Shinto. My favorite section is actually the Appendices, which give some descriptions of how to pray, the bowing and the clapping, etc. Also, describes how offerings are set out.

One thing I wish the book did was to describe or show diagrammatically, voice inflections in the prayers. Given that the sound of the words are so important in Shinto prayers, I would think that inflection would be important too, and I saw no discussion of this. If it's pronounced in a monotone manner, I'd like to at least know that. But, that's my personal feeling. Maybe I should see if I can find some audio clips to get a better idea of how Shinto prayers are chanted.

Back to the review, this is very much a non-academic book and the discussion of Shinto itself is pretty minimal. I don't feel I learned a tremendous amout about Shinto here. But then, as the title says, this is a book of prayers, which is exactly what I wanted and was expecting, and I'm glad I found it.

An unexpected treasure
I picked up a copy of this book while visiting the Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America in Granite Falls, WA. I was incredibly impressed with how the author explained the various terminologies, the Shinto appreciation of Nature and the Kami offering a greater understanding to the beautiful ritual we had witnessed by Reverend Barrish. The lovely translations of the beloved Shinto prayers were an added and unexpected bonus.

My questions are answered
It's rare that I find my questions fully answered in one book. This is the book that tells me more than I knew to ask about how to practice Shinto. I speak with humility and respect when I say, thank you, Ann Llewelyn Evans.With a profound bow. ... Read more

Product Description
In The Essence of Shinto, revered Shinto master Motohisa Yamakage explains the core values of Shinto and explores both basic tenets and its more esoteric points in terms readily accessible to the modern Western reader. He shows how the long history of Shintoism is deeply woven into the fabric of Japanese spirituality and mythology--indeed, it is regarded as Japan's very spiritual roots--and discusses its role in modern Japan and the world. He also carefully analyzes the relationship of the spirit and the soul, which will provide informed and invaluable insight into how spirituality affects our daily existence. Through the author's emphasis on the universality of Shinto and its prevalence in the natural world, the book will appeal to all readers with an appreciation of humanity's place in nature and the individual's role in the larger society. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Slightly Confusing.
As a complete beginner to anything Shinto, I bought this hoping it would give me a broad but detailed overview of some of the concepts of Shinto.While I was reading it, I had to constantly refer to the dictionary at the end because of all the Japanese throughout.That was a bit of a hassle.Also some of the stuff on the spirit was extremely confusing with lots and lots of Japanese terms.I do realize I'm reading a book about a Japanese religion, but it was kind of like reading a book on Catholicism entirely in Latin.Other than that, the book was chock full of details and information.Not a book I would recommend for a beginner, but good nonetheless.

Philosophy of Shinto
I once checked this book out at my local library but was unable to finish it due to other distractions but I liked what I had read thus I ordered it. After reading the entire book I still liked the information provided.
It has been translated into English from the original Japanese for the western reader of which is difficult for Westerners to obtain unless they can read Japanese Kana (Hiragana, katakana, & kanji).

The author is also a Shinto Priest so one is getting it straight from a practitioner.

Overall it is good....but here comes my biggest complaint!

Being a longtime student of Metaphysics and the Occult as well as a practitioner of such for over 30 plus years, I neither liked the authors attitude towards the Occult nor felt it pertinent for him to mention such since to many Westerners who do not understand it Shintoism is "Occult" as well!

In his criticism of the such the author reminded me too much of the typical Uber-Conservative Juedo-Christian Westerner who is not only xenophobic of anything they deem "foreign" to their beliefs and/or religion, but close-minded as well!

The author needed to bare in mind how Shintoism is viewed to non-Japanese often in the same way he presented his negative views of anything Occult of which again gives me pause since much of Shintoism is very 'Mystical' in nature not to mention that Shinto can be called the Paganism of Japan!

I'd recommend this book for anyone interested in Shintoism and it's philosophy but would alos advise the reader to overlook the authors attitude towards the "Occult".

I'm sorry to sound redundant on that one point but it was difficult for me to get past that!

Enlightening
This is wonderful short book on Shinto, which well represents the very cultural soul of Japan, even in these horrid "modern" times in which we live, and which must be understood so as to enable one to grasp some notion, even if a limited one, of the same.
Written by the 75th successor of family lineage within Shinto and providing a personal expression of that one's understanding and thoughts, for which this one is greatful and feels honored to have been allowed to hear/read the same, the perspective is as if one is receiveing guidance from one's beloved uncle or grandfather.
This book is Shinto.
This book does not teach one the ritual practices of Shinto, which must be lived to be so learned, however, this one speaks to the spirit and impotance of Shinto.
namaste

Find your own Shinto
The Essence of Shinto is more than I expect, Master Motohisa Yamakage explain Shinto in a comprehensive language, so you can understand the meaning of Shinto, in a deep way. So you can coexist with Shinto in these modern days, in the book, Master Motohisa Yamakage tells; we can find our personal Shinto in the place we lived.
I'm very great full with this book, if you are looking for spiritual knowledge,know more about Japanese society and culture The Essence of Shinto don't disappoint you.

A Two-Dimensional Beginner's Guide
In writing a book on any religion, an author must confront the great difficulties posed by the transmission of conveying what is often necessarily "spiritual" subject matter.In the case of Shinto, this problem is compounded by a lack of any comprehensive written history or organized worship; even the history of most every Kami in Shinto is distorted and obfuscated by time, specifically the Meiji government's systematic "separation" of Buddhism and Shinto in the late 19th/early 20th century.

Although Yamakage's discourse of Japan's "spiritual roots" are a good start to a high school or college freshman looking to at least understand the basics of its practice, it is rife with such bias and lack of broad historical perspective that it reads essentially as what it actually is: one man's opinion on what Shinto is.

With this having been said, Yamakage's opinions and personal experience of Shinto are well esteemed, (and well earned,) and though he doesn't include anything blatantly wrong, in writing he simplifies the finer points of Shinto to the point of almost making the book look like a New-Age self-help book.

For those who are looking for a simple, cookie-cutter explanation of Shinto to prep for a visit to a shrine or pass a introduction class will find this book at just the right level, without probing into unnecessary details of the "religious" (I use this word loosely) history of Japan.
For those looking to study Shinto with scholarly or serious intent, I would recommend braving the waters of a more in-depth, multi-faceted source. ... Read more