Circulating books may be checked out in 3 week intervals.
Shinto by
This volume focuses on a Japanese religion dating from the early 8th century. Shinto incorporates the worship of ancestors and nature spirits and a belief in sacred power ( kami ) in both animate and inanimate things. Editor Jeff Hay traces its development through primary and secondary sources. An in-depth introduction is followed by an exploration of the origins and evolution of Shinto throughout history. The final chapter discusses controversies and challenges presently facing the Shinto religion.
Japanese Religions: Past and Present by
Japanese Religions, intended as an introductory guide to the religious traditions found in Japan today, together with their historical backgrounds, is also relevant to readers interested in comparative religions, politics, or international affairs. Topics include Shinto, Buddhism, new religions, Christianity, folk religions, and state religion.
E-Books
eBooks are accessible online, and many are available for download or 2 week check out.
Shinto: A Short History by
Shinto - A Short History provides an introductory outline of the historical development of Shinto from the ancient period of Japanese history until the present day. Shinto does not offer a readily identifiable set of teachings, rituals or beliefs; individual shrines and kami deities have led their own lives, not within the confines of a narrowly defined Shinto, but rather as participants in a religious field that included Buddhist, Taoist, Confucian and folk elements. Thus, this book approaches Shinto as a series of historical 'religious systems' rather than attempting to identify a timeless 'Shinto essence'. This history focuses on three aspects of Shinto practice: the people involved in shrine worship, the institutional networks that ensured continuity, and teachings and rituals. By following the interplay between these aspects in different periods, a pattern of continuity and discontinuity is revealed that challenges received understandings of the history of Shinto. This book does not presuppose prior knowledge of Japanese religion, and is easily accessible for those new to the subject.
Shinto Shrines: A Guide to the Sacred Sites of Japan's Ancient Religion by
Of 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 practiced since the dawn of Japanese history. In an extensive introductory section, authors Joseph Cali and John Dougill delve into the fascinating aspects of Shinto, clarifying its relationship with Buddhism as well as its customs, symbolism, and pilgrimage routes. This is followed by a fully illustrated guide to 57 major Shinto shrines throughout Japan, many of which have been designated World Heritage Sites or National Treasures. In each comprehensive entry, the authors highlight important spiritual and physical features of the individual shrines (architecture, design, and art), associated festivals, and enshrined gods. They note the prayers offered and, for travelers, the best times to visit. With over 125 color photographs and 50 detailed illustrations of archetypical Shinto objects and shrines, this volume will enthrall not only those interested in religion but also armchair travelers and visitors to Japan alike. Whether you are planning to visit the actual sites or take a virtual journey, this guide is the perfect companion. Visit Joseph Cali's Shinto Shrines of Japan: The Blog Guide: http://shintoshrinesofjapanblogguide.blogspot.jp/. Visit John Dougill's Green Shinto, "dedicated to the promotion of an open, international and environmental Shinto": http://www.greenshinto.com/wp/.
Shinto the Kami Way by
"An excellently rounded introduction by an eminent Shinto scholar."--Library Journal. Shinto, the indigenous faith of the Japanese people, continues to fascinate and mystify both the casual visitor to Japan and the long-time resident. Relatively unknown among the religions of the world, Shinto: The Kami Way provides an enlightening window into this Japanese faith. In its general aspects, Shinto is more than a religious faith. It is an amalgam of attitudes, ideas, and ways of doing things that through two millennia and more have become an integral part of the manner of the Japanese people. Shinto is both a personal faith in the kami--objects of worship in Shinto and an honorific for noble, sacred spirits--and a communal way of life according to the mind of the kami. This introduction unveils Shinto's spiritual characteristics and discusses the architecture and function of Shinto shrines. Further examination of Shinto's lively festivals, worship, music, and sacred regalia illustrates Shinto's influence on all levels of Japanese life. Fifteen photographs, numerous drawings and Dr. Ono's text introduce the reader to two millennia of indigenous Japanese belief in the kami and communal life. Chapters include: The Kami Way Shrines Worship and Festivals Political and Social Characteristics Some Spiritual Characteristics
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Itsukushima, Japan: The Voice of Nature
Evaluating Websites
MLA Handbook. 8th ed., The Modern Language Association, 2016, pp. 11-12.
Books from the reference section are available for in-library use, or are available for online viewing.
Historical Dictionary of Shinto by
Journalist Ed Gilbreath writes: From time to time, prophetic Christian voices rise in timbre to challenge our nation's "original sin." Martin Luther King Jr.'s voice and historic efforts as the Moses of America's civil rights movement stand out as perhaps the most significant instance of a modern Christian leader acting in a prophetic role to instigate social change. This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the "Letter from Birmingham Jail." This eBook is offered as tribute to Martin Luther King Jr.'s life and especially to the events surrounding the writing of his masterful letter, a work that still calls us to accountability five decades later.
Sourcebook in Shinto: Selected Documents by
Shinto is a remarkably complex and elusive phenomenon to which Western categories of religion do not readily apply. A knowledge of Shinto can only proceed from a basic understanding of Japanese shrines and civilization, for it is closely intermingled with the Japanese way of life and continues to be a vital natural religion. This companion to Picken's first volume, Essentials of Shinto: An Analytical Guide to Principal Teachings, provides a selection of important and pivotal documents in the history of the Shinto tradition. This volume contains a collection of texts and materials related to the Shinto tradition from the classical age of Japan to modern times. Selections from the Japanese classics are followed by liturgical texts and relevant historical documents from the Nara and Heian periods. Next, documents relating to the period of State Shinto are followed by laws regulating Imperial Household Shinto both pre- and post- World War II. This is followed by a brief selection of writings related to Shinto and the New Religions. The remainder of the book is occupied by selections of texts firstly on Shinto Thought from the 13th century to the Meiji Restoration of 1868. The four closing chapters document early and recent western views of Shinto, and a selection of Japanese writings covering the same period. Finally, the appendixes include the official list of Emperors and the nation's oldest shrines.
