Comments on: Shinto Me Timbers... help me find out more about this religion!

Question: Shinto Me Timbers... help me find out more about this religion!

tittergrrl — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 08:39:05 -0800

Looking for some recommended books and media about Shinto, especially the history, tenets and practices of it.

On my last trip to Japan, I found myself getting very interested in Shinto after taking a walking tour in Kyoto. I'd like to continue learning about it, but don't wanna wander around blindly trying to find the best resources. So, I ask upon the spirits of the MetaFilter shrine... hook me (and maybe others?) up, yo!

By: Nelsormensch

Nelsormensch — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 09:07:26 -0800

I've heard good things about Shinto: The Kami Way.

By: adamkolson

adamkolson — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 09:11:16 -0800

I lived near Kyoto for awhile.

I found most interesting for learning about Shinto are Kojiki which deals with the ancient mythological history of Japan.

In regards to Kyoto, and Japanese aesthetics/spirtuality, you might find wabi-sabi interesting. Wabi sabi is one of those words difficult to translate in English as it requires keen communication and study to do so. It's kind of, from my understanding, the idea of process, change, and complimentary organic control.

By: unixrat

unixrat — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 09:33:24 -0800

I find The World's Religions a great starting point for Religion 101 for many of the major religions.

If you hunt, you can find it for dirt cheap. Try the library.

By: unixrat

unixrat — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 09:35:33 -0800

Whoops - for some reason I thought Shinto was covered in depth, but it's not. There's Buddhism, Confucianism, and Daoism. My bad. Ignore my suggestion.

By: zennoshinjou

zennoshinjou — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 09:51:40 -0800

A Year in the Life of a Shinto Shrine should be helpful.

By: KokuRyu

KokuRyu — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 10:38:35 -0800

The Catalpa Bow, by Carmen Blacker is a little dated, but is one of the best books on Japanese religion I've ever read.

A History of Japanese Religion is also a useful book, as Shinto isn't really a stand-alone religion (it's not really a religion at all). Shinto was co-opted by national chauvinists during the Meiji restoration. What you see today is more of an artifice, so it's important to understand how that artifice was constructed.

There's also the online Shinto Encyclopedia.

By: grafholic

grafholic — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 13:53:12 -0800

a little long, but here is a pretty good one that discusses the origin of the deity of the Ise shrine. And at the bottom of this paper is a list of references that might interest you.