جوهر ديانة الشينتو: قلب اليابان الروحي

by Motohisa Yamakage, موتوهيزا ياماكاجي (أمال الحلبي)

يلهمنا دين الشينتو إلى روحية شاملةوعملية في فهم الكون, ويمكننا من خلاله لمس العلاقة الوطيدة القائمة بين سعادة الانسان الروحية وسلامة محيطه الطبيعي.

Genres: Religion, Japan, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Philosophy, Japanese Literature, Asia

231 pages

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Motohisa Yamakage - 山蔭基央 est né en 1925 et a été élevé dans une vieille famille shintoïste. À l'âge de dix-huit ans, il a été initié aux mystères du shinto et, en 1965, est devenu le 79e grand maître du shinto Yamakage. Il est diplômé d'économie de l'université asiatique de Tokyo.

Reviews

[Nimue Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book I’ve read on Shinto. I found it gorgeously written conveying complex ideas in accessible ways. Shinto is, in terms of its outlook and structure, very different from most Western religions. There are words in Japanese that just don’t exist in English, and take some explaining. Exploring concepts that belong to a whole other culture and language is not easy going, and yet this relatively small book undertakes to make a great many things make sense. The first book I read on Shinto was fascinating, but had largely given me the impression that I must forever stand too far outside to be able to understand much at all. I’m so glad that’s turned out not to be the case.
Shinto as a faith is inherently Japanese, but, as this book is keen to make clear, that doesn’t mean it lacks relevance for the rest of the world. We can learn from Shinto – learn about the possible forms religions can take, about ways of relating to the spirit world, and different ways of thinking. It’s so easy to believe that our Western mindset offers the only possible way of understanding a great many things. We become so comfortable in our own beliefs and fail to notice how narrow they are. Being taken beyond ourselves is always a good thing.
I would have happily read something twice the length with twice the detail, but, I’m greedy that way.
Dotted through with beautiful, evocative photos, and loaded with an intensive crash course in what Shinto is and how it works, this is a lovely book, and well worth taking the time to read. It’s so rich in concepts that I intend to re-read it, in a year or two’s time, to see what more I can understand.
Highly recommended.

[Kate O'Shea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Does what it says on the tin, so to speak.

The book gives you the basics of Shinto, urging each reader to seek their own Shinto - how to pray, how to meditate etc.

This book gives you the bare bones of an interesting (I hate to use the word) religion. I've long been fascinated with Japanese culture and its eco friendly religions are a bog part of that.

I found it a little puzzling in parts but it is a book to read in stages and pick up over and again for clarification. There are several extremely useful and informative appendices at the end with translations, useful terms and practice guides.

[GoldGato · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guess it was the Jedi within me, but I have always wanted to learn more about the Shinto religion, although it doesn't seem to be a religion in the traditional sense. While followers do pray to shrines and follow certain festivals, Shinto itself is not bound to any particular institution. And that's why it's so interesting. In today's world of dwindling natural resources, Shinto puts the focus back on the natural essence that is in everything, be it a rock or an octopus.

This practical task of responding to the ecological crisis is given an ethical underpinning by Shinto, which from ancient times has seen it as the principal duty of human beings to care for and preserve their environment - to live within nature rather than attempting to dominate or destroy it.

This is a concise volume which explains the values of Shinto and the various "forms". For instance, there is Shugo Shinto (Shinto + Buddhism), Yoshida Shinto (Shinto + Daoism) or just plain Shinto. It also gets into the various shrines and the function of shikon, with tables explaining how a human being can be affected when balance is not there.

The focus on nature and especially trees/forests (the lungs of the nation and the world) and the lack of a founder makes Shinto a belief I can follow.

Book Season = Spring (feel the pebble)

[Gregory · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a thoroughly conservative, even reactionary book. It is in a way a fundamentalist tract. Here is what the author had to say in the preface:

"Shinto is the consciousness underlying the Japanese mentality, the foundation for Japanese culture and values. Japanese society is still in a state of confusion, one of the symptoms of which has been the proliferation of bizarre cults and sects. It is important, therefore, for the Japanese people to rediscover their spiritual essence and their cultural roots, and to make these a force for the good of humanity as a whole."

Already off to a bad start. The author's motive becomes clear. Not only does he wish to reform "Japanese culture and values", but the whole of humanity. He may be the "79th Grand Master of Yamakage Shinto", an assertion he makes with much frequency (a Shinto Pope?), and may as a result have some clout over those of his faith, maybe even within the larger Japanese society, but to presume a mandate over the rest of the world is hubristic in the extreme. I have no patience for anyone claiming to know what is best for humanity.

I was surprised to find a touch of original sin. "I am unclean" therefore "I beg forgiveness." (pg. 75) And when the author describes how a "lower spirit" acquired from an "unclean" shrine produced physical maladies in himself and others around him, even when far removed from the shrine (pg. 83), that was for me the final inanity. If he really is suffering severe pain in his legs, he really should see a physician. The Shinto that Yamakage describes seems to have more in common with Western theology than with Eastern mysticism.

And then there is this from chapter two:

"We can say that the great influx of atheism and materialism into Japan had a serious influence on the Japanese mind, where the notion of Kami and the spirit-soul are increasingly disappearing. Human beings are seen as simply material things, and there is no concept of an afterlife or a sense of continuity in the dominant culture of modern Japan. This view of the world has steadily undermined rather than enhanced the humanist conceptions of freedom, responsibility, and dignity. When human beings become conscious of an afterlife, of a higher being or beings, or of the possibility of rebirth, they are more likely to think beyond their immediate material interests. But when assuming everything is finished with death, people might conclude that they can do anything as long as they are not violating man-made laws—or as long as they are managing to escape punishment. Then their absolute goals are satisfying their short-term desires and the prolongation of life at all costs. Ultimately, such questions as "what does it really mean to be human?" or "what values should human beings pursue?" begin to disappear."

Well there you have it. Atheists are selfish, materialistic, and devoid of any moral purpose. The author obviously does not understand the concepts of freedom, responsibility, and dignity. My beautiful sister who studies such things tells me that the true essence of Shinto is one of balance and harmony with the universe. Yamakage's portrayal of Shinto proclaims just the opposite. Apart from the author's glaring bigotry, I think what I may be seeing is the same sort of dichotomy between conservative fundamentalism and liberal relativism that is such a problem in Christianity and Islam. Maybe it occurs to some extent in all religious cultures. Japan has embraced and has greatly contributed to the modernity that has so changed our world and that so troubles Motohisa Yamakage. It would be a shame if the Japanese people found themselves being held back by the same sort of regressive ideology that plagues American culture.

[Ahmed Rashwan · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are perhaps a very few books, if any at all excluding this specific one by Yamakage Motohisa, that can possibly leave you with a greater sense of confusion after reading more than you were before reading it. I understand that non-fiction books can sometimes be dry, but I feel like this went beyond dryness; this was so confusing to me that all prior admiration I had for Shinto dissipated upon the completion of the book.

Perhaps I am being quite harsh; the book was good and quite informative and there is absolutely so much I have learned and took away from this book. The former Grand Master does a great job to detail to the extreme depth all that is concerned with Shinto. Everything from its brief history, possible influences, concept, meaning and practice. Yamakage leaves almost nothing else to be further sought out as he attempts to bring the world of Shinto to Westerner readers.

The question of whether Grand Master Yamakage has succeeded or not in his quest to familiarize the West with his nation's main religion of Shinto is one that is up for debate as I am sure that every reader will probably conclude with different and varying claims. As for me personally, I do sincerely believe that Yamakage does indeed successfully perfectly provide us with a concise, detailed and informative manuscript for Shinto, but I feel that the depth in which Yamakage delves into Shinto came with a drawback; this being that the overwhelming amount of names, concepts, abstract and physical ideas, notions and information leaves one discombobulated at best, uninterested at worst.

There are so many levels within levels of abstract concepts that leaves the reader going back and forth trying to keep his grip on what exactly is happening and what Yamakge is exactly speaking about, all this disregarding the quite annoying (but unfortunately necessary) repetitiveness that the book would have probably been even more confusing without.

As an intense lover of everything and anything Japanese, this was for me the only redeeming factor that enabled me to enjoy the little bits of the book as it often transported me to the land of the rising sun and helped me to understand the nation, its people and their culture much more intimately than I ever did before. So much of the Nippon-jin behavior becomes clearer and more understood after learning what can be viewed as the origin of their culture as Shinto has existed in Japan since it had a people in it to give it that name; even before Buddhism and Taoism ever entered its borders, influencing its people and Shinto itself.

This has undoubtedly brought me closer to the nation and people that I have kept near my heart at all times for as long as I can remember. I would definitely recommend this, but only for those with deep and genuine interest in Japan and its culture or to those with sincere interest in theology in general. It is a small book, but quite heavy and difficult to wrap your head around.

[Danny Druid · Rating 3 out of 5]

When you go to a Shinto shrine, you can walk around the grounds but you cannot go inside. The natural scenery, gardens, courtyards, statues, etc. which surround the outside of the shrine are enough to leave you in awe. But if you're a person like me, you cannot help but wonder what is inside and you wish you could go deeper. Only people who are registered can go inside a shrine, so whatever is inside belongs to a restricted few.

Trying to study Shintoism is actually very similar to visiting a shrine. There is enough information on the externalities of the religion to keep you fascinated, but there are always huge gaps in trying to understand the core of this faith because much of the information on it is simply unavailable due to the lack of written documents (let alone documents in English), and because of the secretive nature of the Shinto priesthood.

I was hoping that this book would clear away some of the mist that surrounds this mysterious faith, considering it is written by a high priest of Shintoism. It does to an extent, but not nearly enough to satisfy me. With one big exception, there is no information in this book that you couldn't find in a basic online introduction to Shinto. You could even learn just as much from a little touristy english pamphlet on Shintoism at a shrine as you could from this book, honestly.

The best part of this book are Yamakage's anecdotal stories of experiences in Shinto shrine and in Shinto worship. There is one story in particular of discovering a rock formation that had evidence on it of being used in ancient times for worship, and then worshipping and offering incense to Kami (the personages of worship in Shinto) around it the next day. His description of the way the sun shone on the rocks and filled all the worshippers with reverence was very moving. It was the best part of the book. It would have been better if Yamakage had told us more of his personal experiences.

I also feel there should have been more of a discussion of the stories of the Kami. There is a brief retelling of the Izanami story, along with a philosophical unpacking of it. But that is the only instance of this. Given that Yamakage must have studied the myths a lot since he is a priest of Shintoism, he should have done this in his introductory book more often.

Besides all of the things you could just find online, Yamakage goes into great detail over the nature of the soul as understood by Shintoism. Ancient Japanese people, he explains, believed that each human being has four souls, which can be sometimes separated from each other, particularly during dreams and in death. The Kami have even more souls, which is what allows the same Kami to be worshipped at multiple locations. All of this was very interesting and it reminded me of what I've read about Ancient Egypt, because the Egyptians also believed the soul had multiple parts with their own personalities that could sometimes run away and do their own things.

All in all, I would recommend this book only to someone who literally has never heard of Shintoism before. Otherwise, you can give it a pass.

[Min · Rating 1 out of 5]

With the best intentions, to find more books to learn more about this topic, I found a list of the author's other works.
http://eos.kokugakuin.ac.jp/modules/x... states that the author has written a book entitled: Yudaya no sekai shihai senryaku (Judaism's Plan for World Domination); that is rather disappointing, and disheartening enough I considered not reading the book, at all.
I did make it through, however, I did want a general overview of Shinto without any specific tradition in mind; which the author is very clear, that he is the head of a group seeking to bloom Shinto thought in Japan again, an ancient Shinto.
Honestly, I wasn't sure what to trust as his specific interpretation, or the more broad cultural one. For that reason particularly, I cannot recommend this book. I prefer a more generalized approach.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very reluctant to read this book. I like reading about religions, especially polytheistic ones, but usually I prefer that from a more objective and academic perspective. After all, I am a materialist and do not actually believe any of the claims of these faiths.
The problem is that academic treatises of Shintoism are pretty lame. Just a recitation of architecture and ceremony without any real *umph* for something without real canonical texts to just cite. So the text of a true believer was needed.

And what do you know, it was way better than the dry official treatisies. Sure, you have to sit through some editorializing about the evils of materialism and the wonders of spirituality which can be quite eye-rolling for a person like me...but you do really get the straight dope here. And the idea that the author thinks it a mistake to propagate Shintoism but rather to open the doors for each culture to find its own custom version is truly the mark of a faith more mature than the ones those of us in western Eurasian descended societies are often raised with.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

People should understand that this book IS NOT about Shinto as most Japanese understand it. It is about a new Shinto-derived sect of something that is part Imperial Shinto, part new age spirituality. The leaders of this sect claim that their traditions and beliefs are the real, ancient Shinto, which has been handed down (so they say) over the generations and survives in this new form, Yamakage Shinto. No historical evidence exists for anything resembling Yamakage Shinto, so this sounds a lot like reconstructionist Gardnerian Wicca, which claimed it was the real, ancient pagan religion of the British Isles, which also had no historical evidence to support the claim. This new Shinto is just more ethno-nationalist and disdainful of modern Japan than most Japanese would recognize. Reader, know that you are not reading a general account of standard Shinto. You're reading the thoughts of a Shinto cult leader.

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book as a part of preparations for marrying into a Japanese family. This is a great introduction to Shinto and its core beliefs. Everything is written in clear, concise language that’s easy to understand. I wish there was more in the book about how Japanese people tend to incorporate Shinto practices into their daily lives with notes on how these customs fit into the concept of koshinto but I guess I’ll have to seek that information out for myself.

[Debotroy Ghosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a beginner like me This book Absolutely nailed the job of getting started to know the esoteric,basic and bizzare concepts of shinto spirituality.

This book may come of as devoid of secular humanism and Religious syncretism which makes it all the more authentic as a book about Shinto.

Go for it. I really enjoyed learning about a new Religion that so less know about. From this book if you wanna read further I would suggest pick up a japanese folk-lore and not some 'myth'.

Here's a very important distinction I want to make it for those who are going to read this review ~ the word 'myth' doesn't exactly denote the shinto stories that has ingrained itself with the japanese history and culture.

The word myth quickly denotes these stories as false and fabricated while the essence of shinto is only established when one first believes in the cultural lores and shinto stories to establish contact and purification.

The correct word would be folk-lore,lore or in japanese 'minkan desho' or folk transmissions.

Moreover the Author is the 79th Grand Master of Yamakage Shinto which can act as a proof for the authenticity and accuracy of the book.

This will be an enjoyable read for people who enjoy Religious Topics, Spiritual Topics and books on new Cultures and Mysticism.

[Othy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book in order to understand Japanese culture, and thus Japanese literature, more fully. There is a lot here that I already knew: Shinto focuses on purity and impurity, it has no Scriptures or Doctrine, and that it sees the physical world as good. There is a lot here that furthered my knowledge and that I found very interesting, such as the interaction of the different types of souls or spirits and some of the various ways that a Shinto practitioner learns to hear their true self. A clean, bright heart is paramount.

I have mostly read about Shinto from an academic standpoint, which sees it as a highly flexible and even confusing system (if it's even a system at all). The author here espouses a particular type of Shinto (Yamakage), so his description of his religion is considerably more codified. I think that both viewpoints are important for a true understanding.

[Apolonia Wielgus · Rating 5 out of 5]

This booked piqued my interest while visiting the Portland Japanese Garden. It offers an easily understandable overview of Shintoism and insight into the belief system, traditions, and culture of practitioners. It explains key meanings, such as jinja and misogi, and guides the reader in what is considered appropriate practice of honoring Kami, both at home and at the shrine.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book for its modern take on Shintoism. I feel as though it does not do well with describing Shinto’s historical progression. I also feel like it reads like it is defending and perhaps evangelizing Shinto beliefs at times. I suppose that is okay though.

[Raymond · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book in attempt to make more sense of Shinto practices. The author is correct in pointing out how most Japanese actually do not know why they perform the various religious act that they do, and I was nodding in agreement when he mentioned how most Japanese when asked will simply answer that this is how it's always been done.

The Essence of Shinto goes some way towards clarifying Shinto practices as the author is himself a Shinto authority with knowledge of the ancient roots of the belief system and how it's changed throughout history. It can however read a bit too much like a book by and for believers, rather than a book for someone who is simply trying to understand the religion. It should be ideal however for spiritually inclined people who are actually considering getting into Shinto on a personal level.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very fine introduction to Shinto, one of the world's oldest religions. Yamakage gives us both the insider's perspective (he is one of a venerable line of Shinto priests and scholars) and a rational presentation that makes sense to foreigners. Shinto is one of those uniquely Japanese things - its roots go way back into the distant past and many of its beliefs clearly date back to then. I wanted to read about it because it seemed to be a key to understanding Japanese culture - there are pieces of Shinto scattered throughout Japanese life. It is also intertwined with Buddhism to some extent - another thing found only in Japan, even though the two religions have some very different beliefs. As I read somewhere, your average Japanese has their child blessed at a Shinto shrine, goes to funerals at a Buddhist temple, and gets married in a church (or something like that.)

Shinto is somewhat animistic, and it is based on the idea that spirits are ever-present in our world. These spirits are called kami, and they come in many varieties, not all of them good. Different types of kami exist in different places and can have positive and negative impacts on people. Our ultimate goal is to join them and to become a kami ourselves after death. Shinto also believes in the concept of the four souls, i.e. each person has four different major spiritual components which are doing different things. This was quite foreign to me, and it was hard for me to comprehend the notion that we are meant to be fragmented in this way. Cleanliness is very important in Shinto, and Shintoists regularly purify themselves by bathing and cleaning. This idea is prevalent everywhere in Japan - the idea of being "clean and bright."

In other ways it is like other religions. There are prayers and meditations - Yamakage describes in detail the practice of chinkon, which is not radically different from the way other spiritual groups meditate. There are holy places and spiritual leaders. But it is much vaguer than other religions, and does not have a sacred book or set of teachings at its core. Indeed, it has changed a lot over the years, and was, during Japan's imperial period, used by the state to control the population, something that led to its decline in the post-war era. One of the things that stood out to me was Yamakage's statement that, unlike many Westerners, the Japanese frequently view words themselves with suspicion, believing that they can only go so far in explaining and communicating reality.

This book, or one like it, is a must read for anyone interested in Japanese culture or Japanese religious life.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

For someone who is just beginning to explore the concepts of Shinto, this is probably not the best of books. Yamakage sensei approaches the subject a bit more moralistically and with a bit less rationalism than should be expected from a tradition that has no doctrine, no teachings and no founder. There is no single Shinto, and there seems an expression in this text that Yamakage Shinto (Yamakage family tradition, not the self aggrandizement of the author) should be the only and original way of the kami.

I found his book to read like a Catholic text, and his overly taxing focus on sin seemed decidedly at odds with general Shinto concepts. While it might be appropriate to Catholicism, it seems out of place in Shinto. His conceptualization of life after death also seemed a bit elaborate as well.

The Shinto that this reviewer has come to know concerns itself with balance and harmony with one's surroundings, and especially with nature, seeing the energies within nature and respecting them. It has more to do with celebrating life here and now and keeping oneself in equilibrium with it in the present with less concern with what happens after one dies. If one needs a promise of heaven or a threat of hell to do the right thing, it's not to be found in Shinto. Doing the right thing is natural and shouldn't need reward or punishment.

I would consider this book for someone who has had a longer acquaintance with Shinto and understands that there are some differences, but while the author does express some interesting and valid concepts, it's not necessarily going to hold true in every case. For someone just starting out with Shinto, this book will likely just be a distraction and confuse the issue.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. The Essence of Shinto was written by a practicing Yamakage Shinto grand master (actually, these days his son is the acting grand master). It's a book written by a person of faith, explaining his sect of Shinto from that viewpoint, not from an academic viewpoint, so know that going in. It also has a few issues that I believe stem from the translation and the fact that it was originally (it seems) written for a Japanese audience already familiar with aspects of Shinto. There are many Japanese religious terms that aren't very simply defined, and aspects of explanations can confusing. The book focuses more on the philosophy and faith of Shinto than on outward practices like festivals, what various iconography means, etc (though we do lean very briefly how to worship at a shrine and how to meditate and chant, though that aspect seems like you should really have a Shinto priest personally teach you). There's also not much Japanese mythology here, and basic knowledge of the Japanese myths of creation might be helpful.
I appreciated the author's deep faith and morality and his explanations of the principles of Shinto. I also found the chapter on meditation and prayer helpful, as much of the advice is applicable to Zen meditation and other styles of meditation as well. I do hope to find another book that goes more deeply into "shrine Shinto," the yearly festivals, and perhaps explains certain concepts more explicitly. I'm definitely going to be doing a bit of googling to refine my understanding of what was presented here.

[Sarika · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author is up front of his bias, he is a head priest of his shrine. Despite that or because of it, he has a very even view on the religion. This book was written for a Japanese audience, but it is well translated and the cultural differences do not seem to be more then the average reader can overcome.

[Dara · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a pretty bad introduction to Shinto. The amount of romaji terms shoved into this book that Yamakage just expects you to remember is crazy. The glossary in the back didn’t have most of the words mentioned. I’m still confused on what the basics of Shinto even are.

[Manuel Del Río Rodríguez · Rating 3 out of 5]

*What is Shinto?*

I start this review, as in the previous one, with a (partially) rhetorical question. Most people are vaguely aware that the most popular of Japan’s religious beliefs are a syncretic mix of East Asian Buddhism and Shinto. When asked to define the latter, many would say something like: “Japan’s original, animistic, and primitive belief system—one that resembles the indigenous practices of other peoples, such as Native Americans, sub-Saharan Africans, and remote Asian communities.”

This appraisal is not wrong but, as often happens, it is incomplete. First, most Japanese would reject describing belief in or participation in the ritual practices of Shinto as “religion,” particularly in the dogmatic, exclusivist, founder–scriptures–dogma–and–prescriptive-moral-code format that Western concepts of religion often take for granted. Second, establishing an unbroken continuity between ancient practices and current Shinto is, at best, equivocal. For most of its recorded history, Shinto beliefs and practices were inextricably intertwined with Buddhist ones. They were forcibly separated during the 1860s Meiji Restoration, which created a nativist, nationalistic, government-sponsored “State Shinto” (arguably the beginning of Shinto as a modern “religion”). After the Second World War, it was disestablished and fragmented into multiple sects and branches, many connected to specific shrines.

The Wikipedia article on Shinto offers a very solid historical, anthropological, and architectural introduction, and should be your first reference. The present book makes a good second read.

*The book*

The Essence of Shinto is rather short (229 pages, including appendices) and was written by a practitioner who is also the head of one of the Shinto schools (Yamakage). In contrast to Wikipedia, this book presents Shinto “from the inside”: it is the work of a priest who believes in the religious tenets and practices of his faith, has sought to modernize and recover practices of old, and, besides explaining the core concepts of the faith, also finds time to guide religious practices, argue against a materialist worldview that ignores nature, tradition, and “the other realm,” and share personal testimonials about the powers and positive effects of Shinto belief, prayer, and purification.

The author goes out of his way to stress Shinto’s differences from conventional religions (as noted, it lacks a founder, dogmatic scriptures, fixed precepts and commandments, idols, and a unified organization). What all denominations seem to share is a belief in an “Other World” inhabited by beings of power—kami—that can be contacted and asked for help if the proper measures are taken. Also widely shared is the importance of purity and purification, which makes Shinto reminiscent of Indian Vedic beliefs and of early Judaism (as in Leviticus). Pollution (spiritual and metaphorical, not only physical) blocks communication with the kami. There are various methods of purification: with water, salt, sand, and proper mental and religious practices (chinkon, discussed in detail in the book). You also learn that shrines (jinja) are not actually necessary—the kami neither need them nor necessarily dwell in them, and they can leave them if the site becomes impure. The book also provides a typology of places that can attract the kami, from natural landscape features to household altars.

Some specific beliefs in the book, attached to koshinto (“old Shinto”), feel more like the author’s and his branch’s own developments than generally held views. These include metaphysical ideas about the afterlife, the potential of all humans to become kami, and the “one spirit, four souls” (ichirei shikon) philosophy said to constitute human beings.

*Personal impressions*

Although I try to be open-minded, I imagine that as a skeptical liberal humanist I am far from the book’s ideal audience. While I would have preferred a more anthropological and external perspective, I think the volume does a good job of presenting the case for Shinto from within. It remains relatively open-minded toward other faiths and practices, focusing instead on a broad appreciation for nature and the numinous—an outlook that can be shared and developed by different traditions in different places, beyond Japan.

[ABDALLAH FATEH · Rating 3 out of 5]

ديانة الشينتو ديانة يابانية مستقاة من التواصل الروحي بين اليابانيين القدماء والطبيعة وهي تربط سعادة الانسان الروحية بسلامة محيطه الطبيعية. وقد توارثت عدد من العائلات اليابانية العريقة هذه الديانة، ومؤلف الكتاب موتوهيزا ياماكاجي يمثل الوريث التاسع والسبعون لياماكاجي شنتو.
يقدّس الشينتويون الطبيعة باعتبارها المصدر العظيم للطاقة الروحية الآتية من الخالق [كامي]، ومنشأ هذه القدسية من كون الطبيعة تتميز بالطهارة والانسجام الذي يسمح لها أن تكون مصدرا وانعكاسا للطاقة الروحية المتدفقة من [كامي] والآلهة المتولدة من شمس وقمر وريح وجبال ومظاهر الطبيعة الأخرى، وبالتالي هي أجزاء تمثل امتدادا لــ[كامي].
يؤمن الشينتويون بأن الكون وسائر المخلوقات المتواجدة فيه تتكون من نفس واحدة وأربعة أرواح ولكل روح من هذه الأرواح دور معين تلعبه. النفس الواحدة منشأها الخالق وتتمتع بالاستقامة والصدق والطهارة وهي محصنة من التلوث أي أنه مهما اقترف الانسان من خطايا فهذه النفس لن تتعرض للتلوث ومنه يؤمن الشينتويون بنظرية الخير المتأصل في الانسان. أما الأرواح الأربعة فيمكن لها أن تتلوث بالخطايا والسيئات إلا أنها قابلة للزوال من خلال التطهر والصلاة.
هذه الأرواح الأربعة في حالة عدم التوازن فيما بينها وطغيان إحداها على الأخرى تكون سببا لتعرض الانسان لمختلف الأمراض النفسية وتغدو لاقطا لذبذبات القادمة من الأرواح المنحطة مشوشة عن النفس الحقيقية وواقفة حجرة عثرة لبلوغ الانسان لحالة الاشراق أي انبعاث النفس الحقيقة وسيادتها داخل الانسان.
يتخلص الانسان من الخطايا والأرواح المنحطة التي هي مصدر للطاقة السلبية من خلال التطهر البدني والروحي/الفكري. فمن خلال مبدأ ميزوجي (الاغتسال بالماء أو في المحيط أو في النهر) ومبدأ هاراي (التطهر عبر الكلمات المقدسة والنار والتراب) يُسقط الانسان مختلف الأدران والخطايا استعدادا لطقس الصلاة (تشينكون).
يصل الانسان بحسب ديانة الشينتو لحالة التوازن/الإشراق من خلال (تشينكون) متمثلة في مجموعة من التمارين التأملية، الهدف منها سكون الذهن وخلق التوازن بين الأرواح الأربعة جاعلة من النفس الحقيقة تشرق في داخل الانسان.
يترتب عن حالة الاشراق استقامة نفس وفكر وجسد الانسان، وعيشه منسجما مع محيطه الطبيعي والإنساني.
تؤمن ديانة الشينتو بعالم ما بعد الموت. كما أنّ لديها تفسيرها الخاص عن مآل الانسان بعد الموت، حيث تعتقد أن النفس الواحدة رفقة اثنان من الأرواح تصعد نحو السماء، أمّا الروحين المتبقيين فواحدة منها تندثر والأخرى تبقى بمثابة همزة الوصل بين السماء والأرض. والجدير بالاهتمام أن ديانة الشينتو تعتقد باستمرارية تطهر النفس حتى بعد الموت ولن يتوقف هذا المسعى حتى تحقق أعلى المراتب السماوية.

[Sreena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shinto is not a religion that seeks to change the world; rather, it seeks to change the heart of humanity.

This book offers a profound exploration of Shinto, Japan's ancient indigenous religion. Delving into its rich history, beliefs, and practices, Yamakage masterfully unveils the core essence of Shinto and its significance in Japanese society.

Best part of the book:
One particular story that left a lasting impression on me is the tale of a young apprentice seeking enlightenment. The apprentice, filled with ambition and eagerness, approaches a master and asks, "What must I do to attain true understanding?" In response, the master leads the apprentice to a nearby river and instructs him to watch the flowing water. As the apprentice gazes at the water's movement, the master explains that true understanding lies not in seeking knowledge but in observing and aligning oneself with the natural flow of existence. This story beautifully illustrates the essence of Shinto, emphasizing the importance of harmony with nature and the world around us.

A book that left me with a deep appreciation for Shinto's profound wisdom and a renewed sense of connection with the natural world.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is not long, but it did take me some time to work through. There are a lot of technical (and Japanese) terms introduced quickly and it takes a lot of context clues and flipping pages back and forth to make sure it's the right italicized word I think it is.

Additionally, this book is a translation and only occasional adaptation of a book published in Japan, so rather than addressing the needs of outsiders, some of the most wonderful parts are where Yamakage expresses frustration with his compatriots and coreligionists over mixing Buddhist principles in Shinto (he maintains that Buddhist funerals became popular because Shinto priests weren't interested in an "unclean" corpse and didn't protest losing the job), or worshiping at popular sightseeing areas instead of a place connected to you or your family, or the intellectualizing of the clergy who seem to have forgotten the importance of actually having faith. It's a bit of an insider view on Shinto and its change role as "Japan's Spiritual Heart."

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have a serious interest in Japan, and in the philosophies of Shinto, then I highly recommend this book. Not only is it an excellent translation, it's as straightforward an approach as you're likely to get to this complex and subtle system.

I picked this up because, while watching an anime and seeing some characters visit a shrine, I realized--I had no idea what this shrine was for. To whom it was dedicated. I realized, actually, that despite having a passing interest in video games and anime, I had no real cultural frame of reference for what I was watching.

So naturally, I began to search for a way to educate myself. This is what I came up with.

While this was a challenging read, I want to reiterate that I found it extremely worthwhile. Again--if you have an interest in Japanese history and culture, I think this is about as good an entry point as you're liable to find.

[Lauren Dostal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Likes: This was a very passionately written text by a legitimate Shinto authority. I loved the depth of conversation he brought to the ways that Shinto has shaped Japan and in turn has been shaped by contact with Buddhism and the West. It was a great introduction to personal spirituality and a Shinto worldview.

Dislikes: This book assumes at least a passing knowledge of Shinto beliefs, practices, and origins (which I did not possess), so I found it confusing at times, and I wasn’t able to grasp some things which were probably evident with a little more study.

Overall: a wonderful book that I would like to come back to after I gain more working knowledge of the practice. This book was for both research and curiosity, and I found it was not only useful, but engaging and challenging to my own personal worldview. Would certainly recommend.

[Laurent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Livre à deux étapes.

La première partie est une bonne introduction à cette tradition spirituelle qui rassemble pas mal de bonnes pratiques et habitudes qui sont très tendances dans le mindfulness et d’autres livres de développement personnel.

Puis une partie plus technique … plus difficilement accessible pour les néophytes. Dommage car on perd à mon sens les personnes qui découvrent le shintô et auraient probablement apprécié des aides plus pratiques, plus « occidentales ». D’autres auteurs y arriveront probablement mieux.

Donc un livre plus référence qui mérite une « étude » plus poussée et probablement comme l’auteur l’indique, de trouver son propre shintô … avec une approche plus occidentale.

[Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

liked this a lot better than the other book on shinto i read. the author here is actually a practitioner of shinto himself and knows the religion very well, so he knew better what he was talking about and i really liked the depth he brought to the book. the only thing i'd say is i wish i read it closer together; i think i took too long to read it so some things he talked about i'd forget the next time i picked it up. he also used a lot of terms in place of re-describing everything, which makes sense as you don't want to repeat yourself too much but i also found that a little confusing at times. all in all it's a great read and i highly recommend it.

[Cath · Rating 4 out of 5]

Um livro bem interessante de ler em sequência do outro. Ao contrário da pegada mais histórica do anterior, esse foca bem no aspecto espiritual e é uma perspectiva mais de dentro do xinto. Ele serve bem pra lavar o ar de incerteza e arbitrariedade que paira sobre o xintoísmo depois de uma leitura histórica. A perspectiva desse sacerdote é muito sincera e carismática, e foi uma leitura muito útil. Complementou bem os outros pontos e ajudou a visualizar melhor o xintoísmo na prática. Esse livro meio que me converteu então não dá pra dizer que não gostei. Fiquei bem cativada lendo. Foi legal! Achei parecido com espiritismo e candomblé em certos pontos, o que foi interessante.

[Juli Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is written more for Shinto practitioners than for curious onlookers. This book has more of an emphasis on spiritual elements and inner work, with an emphasis on faith. The tone (especially in the introduction) definitely presumes some familiarity with the politics of Shinto practice in Japan, and can be a midge dogmatic at times, and the glossary of Japanese terms is not complete, which made for a frustrating reading experience at times (as someone who doesn't speak Japanese). That said, this is a unique resource!