Reading Zen in the Rocks by Francois Bertbier (translated with a philosophical essay by Graham Parkes) Uni of Chicago Press, 2000
Understanding the role of rocks in Japanese culture, and specifically in Shinto, has been something of a quest for … Read the rest
This lengthy and state-of-the-art article not only surveys six different academic works, but presents an overview of the current state of Shinto studies worldwide. In doing so, it shows the attention that Shinto has won in the past 30 years. … Read the rest
A book on Japanese Culture written by an academic and subtitled ‘The Religious and Philosophical Foundations’ hardly promises to be light reading. Yet this relatively slim volume (154 pages), while not exactly a bundle of laughs, is clear, accessible and … Read the rest
Joseph Cali & John Dougill, Shinto Shrines: A Guide to the Sacred Sites of Japan’s Ancient Religion
(University of Hawai’i Press, 2012)
This book is by
My holiday reading this summer includes a Japanese novel by Hikaru Okuizumi that won the prestigious Akutagawa Prize after it came out in 1993. The Stones Cry Out is the English translation by James N. Westerhoven, published in 1999 by … Read the rest
One of the functions of the shaman in ancient societies was as guardian of the tribe’s identity. This often meant memorising great chunks of mythology and history. Keeping a record of the past not only tells you who you are, … Read the rest
During Shinto rituals formal prayers or declarations are made, which are known as norito. They first appear in the Kojiki (712) and in the Nihongi (720). But they are best-known from the Engi-shiki (927), in which the … Read the rest
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