Shinto the Kami Way
by Sokyo Ono Ph.D., William P. Woodard
List Price:
Our Price: $7.35
You Save: $5.60 (43%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $6.53 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Sokyo Ono Ph.D., William P. WoodardEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2004-04-15
ISBN: 0804835578
Number of pages: 128
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
Book Reviews of Shinto the Kami Way
Book Review: An introduction to the un-religion
Summary: 4 Stars
Originally published in 1960 as "Bulletin #8" from the government-sponsored International Institute for the Study of Religions, "Shinto: The Kami Way" was written to serve as an English-language introduction to Japan's native religion. While somewhat dated in use of language and pictures, the fact that the book is still in print more than fifty years later says that author Ono Sokyo did a good job of it.
And Ono did do a good job. He stayed mostly on the surface, discussed the establishment of shrines, who pays for them and what their role is, who the priests are and what their role is, what are some of the important shrines and architectural style. He writes about the significance of certain objects like the shimenawa rope you see at many shrines, or the costumes of the priests and shrine maidens. He sheds some light on some of the rituals, on the history of Shinto through WWII and after, and the role of Shinto in the home and in the community. This is very much a "nuts and bolts" guide to the world of Shinto.
For the rest, for the nature of kami and the beliefs of Shinto, he simply says:
"It is impossible to make explicit and clear what that which fundamentally by its very nature is vague."
This is the aspect that many Westerners find so mystifying about Shinto. It falls too far outside what they think of as "religion." There are no prophets or holy men, no bible or salvation, no afterlife, no forbidden fruits, no code of moral conduct. Shinto is a life-affirming religion, and all things associated with life; sex, pain, indulgence, lust, joy, abandon; are good. Getting completely drunk and stuffing yourself like a pig on expensive treats is one of the most holy ways to honor the spirits. There is no concept of sin; the most one can be is dirty (the kami like things clean).
Shinto is also not so much a system of beliefs as an organization of rituals and traditions. Even reading some of the reviews for this book, it is clear how difficult a concept this is for people to grasp. One reviewer wanted to see a gallery of images of kami, even though Ono makes it explicit that kami have no form and are never depicted in art. Another reviewer insists that there MUST be a doctrine and theology for Shinto, and somehow Ono didn't include it in his book. But Ono is right. No such thing exists.
In truth, as Ono writes, Shinto is more of a collection of rituals, traditions and superstitions bound up in a very loose belief system. One cannot say "I am Shinto" in the way you would say "I am Buddhist" or "I am Catholic." That would be like saying "I am Christmas" because you put up a tree every year. In fact, most Japanese people have never even heard the word Shinto, and if you told them they were being religious just because they had a shrine at home and participated in the local festivals, they would just laugh at you. These activities are just part of daily life, part of being Japanese. And that is Shinto.
Because Shinto is something you do, not something you think about. Ono puts this succinctly in saying "Shinto is caught, and not taught" and "the strength of Shinto is in its emphasis on sensory experience derived from mystic rites and natural phenomenon rather than on theological discourse."
With this I could not agree with Ono more. As part of my Master's Degree, I have read many books and wrote many papers on Shinto, and no amount of study can really tell you what Shinto is. I would say that I have a strong understanding of the native religion of Japan, but this was gained through experience, through shouldering the heavy mikoshi as we took the local kami on a tour through the town, or burning under giant flaming torches in order to please a local fire kami, or suffering through the ordeal that is the Naked Man Festival from which not everyone comes out alive.
A book like Ono's is never going to be able to truly show you what Shinto is, any more than a book on sushi could really tell you what uni tastes like. They can talk about the history, the cultivation, the preparation, but when it comes to flavor you are really just going to have to try it for yourself.
Summary of Shinto the Kami Way
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. 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 millenia of indigenous Japanese belief in the Kami - the sacred spirits worshipped in Shinto - and in communal life, the way of the Kami.
Fifteen photographs, numerous drawings and Dr. Ono's text introduce the reader to two millenia of indigenous Japanese belief in the Kami - the sacred spirits worshipped in Shinto - and in communal life, the way of the Kami.
Shintoism Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Shintoism Books
Bushido, the Soul of Japanby INAZO NITOBÉ
Bottom of the Hill Publishing; Published: 2010-09-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.70
Price in other shops:
The Kojiki: Japanese Records of Ancient Matters (Forgotten Books)Forgotten Books; Published: 2008-05-07; Paperback; Book
Best price: $13.19
Shinto the Kami Wayby Sokyo Ono Ph.D., William P. Woodard
Tuttle Publishing; Published: 2004-04-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.35
Price in other shops:
The Living Way: Stories of Kurozumi Munetada, A Shinto Founder (Sacred Literature)by Sumio Kamiya
AltaMira Press; Published: 2000-05-28; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.99
Price in other shops:
The Replica Of The Ark Of The Covenant In Japan: The Mystery of MiFune-Shiroby Gene Cho
iUniverse, Inc.; Published: 2007-12-27; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $30.14
Price in other shops:
The Protocol of the Gods: A Study of the Kasuga Cult in Japanese Historyby Allan G. Grapard
University of California Press; Published: 1993-01-14; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $60.93
Price in other shops:
The Living Way: Stories of Kurozumi Munetada, a Shinto Founder (The Sacret Literature Series of the International Sacred Literature Trust)by Willis Stoesz
AltaMira Press; Published: 2000-06-25; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.01
Price in other shops:
A Popular Dictionary of Shinto (Popular dictionaries of religion)by BOCKING. BRIAN
Curzon; Published: 2007-03-20; Kindle Edition; eBooks
Price in other shops:
Your Place in the Divine Orderby Toshu Fukami
iUniverse; Published: 1999-03-04; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.95
Price in other shops:
Japanese Mythologyby Juliet Piggott
Chancellor Press; Published: 1997-10-15; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $42.00
Similar Books and other products
Shinto: The Way Home (Dimensions of Asian Spirituality)by Thomas P. Kasulis
University of Hawaii Press; Published: 2004-08-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $14.27
Price in other shops:
An Introduction to Hinduism (Introduction to Religion)by Gavin D. Flood
Cambridge University Press; Published: 1996-07-13; Paperback; Book
Best price: $23.98
Price in other shops:
Ideals of the Samurai (History & Philosophy Series)by William Scott Wilson
Black Belt Communications; Published: 1982-08-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.15
Price in other shops:
Simple Guides Shintoby Ian Reader
Kuperard; Published: 2008-11-04; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.10
Price in other shops:
Chinese Religious Traditions (Religions of the World)by Joseph A. Adler
Prentice Hall; Published: 2002-03-16; Paperback; Book
Best price: $23.78
Price in other shops:
Introducing Buddhism (World Religions)by Damien Keown, Charles S. Prebish
Routledge; Published: 2010-01-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $31.56
Price in other shops:
Japanese Buddhism: A Cultural Historyby Yoshiro Tamura
Kosei Publishing Company; Published: 2001-03-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.49
Price in other shops:
A Year in the Life of a Shinto Shrineby John K. Nelson
University of Washington Press; Published: 1996-01-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $13.00
Price in other shops:
Shinto Norito: A Book of Prayersby Ann Llewellyn Evans
Trafford Publishing; Published: 2002-04-08; Paperback; Book
Best price: $19.50
The Essence of Shinto: Japan's Spiritual Heartby Motohisa Yamakage
Kodansha USA; Published: 2007-05-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $18.71
Price in other shops: