Ancient Japanese Rituals

First published in 2002. What is Shinto? is the key question asked by all who seek to understand Japan and the Japanese, answered in this volume by Sir Ernest Satow, the great British scholar and diplomat. Shinto is the unique and little-known religious beliefs that flourished in Japan before the introduction of Buddhism and Confucianism, but there are many versions - which is the pure form? Satow begins with a detailed study of core Shinto rituals as revealed in ancient texts, which embody the deepest and oldest traditions of Shinto belief in divinity, national destiny and, above all, Japan's special favored status as 'the country of the gods', beliefs that endure today behind the facade of Japan Inc. Shinto rites, incantations, sacred objects and symbols are described meticulously, with illustrations and translations by Karl Florenz. Satow then describes how the Ancient Way of Shinto survived centuries of foreign influence to be revived during the Meiji era, when it became the driving force behind the transformation of Japan into a world power. Unrivalled for its scholarship and elegance, this is a classic in Japanese studies.

This volume presents the only English translation of the prayers of Japan's indigenous religious tradition, Shinto. These prayers, norito, are works of religious literature that are basic to our understanding of Japanese religious history. Locating Donald Philippi as one of a small number of scholars who have developed a perceptive approach to the problem of "hermeneutical distance" in dealing with ancient or foreign texts, Joseph M. Kitagawa recalls Mircea Eliade's observation that "most of the time [our] encounters and comparisons with non-Western cultures have not made all the `strangeness' of these cultures evident. . . . We may say that the Western world has not yet, or not generally, met with authentic representatives of the `real' non-Western traditions." Composed in the stately ritual language of the ancient Japanese and presented as a "performing text," these prayers are, Kitagawa tells us, "one of the authentic foreign representatives in Eliade's sense." In the preface Kitagawa elucidates their significance, discusses Philippi's methods of encountering the "strangeness" of Japan, and comments astutely on aspects of the encounter of East and West.

Shinto: The Ancient Religion of Japan by W. G. Aston is a book about the cultural traditions of the Shinto cult, first published in 1921. The book is relatively short and covers myths, gods and priesthood, worship, morality and purity, divination, and inspiration.

Among the most exciting developments in the study of Japanese religion over the past two decades has been the discovery of tens of thousands of ritual vessels, implements, and scapegoat dolls (hitogata) from the Nara (710-784) and early Heian (794-1185) periods. Because inscriptions on many of the items are clearly derived from Chinese rites of spirit pacification, it is now evident that previous scholarship has mischaracterized the role of Buddhism in early Japanese religion. Weaving and Binding makes a compelling argument that both the Japanese royal system and the Japanese Buddhist tradition owe much to continental rituals centered on the manipulation of yin and yang, animal sacrifice, and spirit quelling. Building on these recent archaeological discoveries, Michael Como charts an epochal transformation in the religious culture of the Japanese islands, tracing the transmission and development of fundamental paradigms of religious practice to immigrant lineages and deities from the Korean peninsula. In addition to archaeological materials, Como makes extensive use of a wide range of textual sources from across Asia, including court chronicles, poetry collections, gazetteers, temple records, and divinatory texts. As he investigates the influence of myths, legends, and rites of the ancient Chinese festival calendar on religious practice across the Japanese islands, Como shows how the ability of immigrant lineages to propitiate hostile deities led to the creation of elaborate networks of temple-shrine complexes that shaped later sectarian Shinto as well as popular understandings of the relationship between the buddhas and the gods of Japan. For much of the book, this process is examined through rites and legends from the Chinese calendar that were related to weaving, sericulture, and medicine—technologies that to a large degree were controlled by lineages with roots in the Korean peninsula and that claimed female deities and weaving maidens as founding ancestors. Como’s examination of a series of ancient Japanese legends of female immortals, weaving maidens, and shamanesses reveals that female deities played a key role in the moving of technologies and ritual practices from peripheral regions in Kyushu and elsewhere into central Japan and the heart of the imperial cult. As a result, some of the most important building blocks of the purportedly native Shinto tradition were to a remarkable degree shaped by the ancestral cults of immigrant lineages and popular Korean and Chinese religious practices. This is a provocative and innovative work that upsets the standard interpretation of early historical religion in Japan, revealing a complex picture of continental cultic practice both at court and in the countryside.

Japan is one of the most urbanised and industrialised countries in the world. Yet the Japanese continue to practise a variety of religious rituals and ceremonies despite the high-tech, highly regimented nature of Japanese society. Ceremony and Ritual in Japan focuses on the traditional and religious aspects of Japanese society from an anthropological perspective, presenting new material and making cross-cultural comparisons. The chapters in this collection cover topics as diverse as funerals and mourning, sweeping, women's roles in ritual, the division of ceremonial foods into bitter and sweet, the history of a shrine, the playing of games, the exchange of towels and the relationship between ceremony and the workplace. The book provides an overview of the meaning of tradition, and looks at the way in which new ceremonies have sprung up in changing circumstances, while old ones have been preserved, or have developed new meanings.

Also known as the "Records of Ancient Matters," this is the "official" story of the Japanese peoples, first written down in the 8th century and documenting the creation of the world, the gods, and Japan. The oldest known document in the Japanese language, this is a vital text of the Shinto religion, a beautiful evocation of the mythology and traditions of ancient Japan.This edition also includes the Yengishiki, a compilation of Shinto rituals, including "The Harvest Ritual," "The Ritual for the Wind-Gods," "The Ritual for EvilSpirits," and others.

"Shinto: The Way of the Gods - The Ancient Religion of Japan and Its Influence on Society" is a comprehensive examination of the Shinto religion and its significance in Japanese society. Shinto, which literally means "Way of the Gods," is one of the oldest religions in the world and has a profound influence on Japanese culture, history, and identity. In this book, we explore the origins of Shintoism and the fundamental principles of this religion. We take a look at the various types of Shinto shrines and their significance as places of worship and purification. Furthermore, we examine the diverse rituals and ceremonies practiced in Shinto and how they shape the spiritual lives of people in Japan. Another important topic is the connection between Shinto and nature. In Shintoism, it is believed that nature is inhabited by spirits or gods, and this concept has a strong influence on the understanding and treatment of the environment in Japan. We also consider the connection between Shinto and Japanese mythology, as many of the gods and goddesses of Shinto play a role in ancient Japanese myths and legends. An additional aspect is the importance of Shinto in family life. Family rituals and ancestor veneration are integral parts of Shinto beliefs and have a significant impact on family relationships in Japan. Furthermore, we shed light on the influence of Shinto on Japanese art. Whether it is painting, architecture, theater, or music, Shintoism has greatly shaped the artistic expressions of Japan. Additionally, we examine the political history of Japan and the influence of Shinto on the country's development. Particularly during the imperial era, Shintoism played a significant role as an instrument of state ideology and as a justification for imperialistic aspirations. Throughout the book, we also consider the role of Shinto in modern society. How has the faith changed over time, and how is it practiced in contemporary times? We take a look at the influence of Shinto on various aspects of modern life, such as education, work ethics, and social norms. A fascinating topic is also the presence of Shinto in popular culture. Films, anime, and manga often incorporate elements of Shinto, contributing to the spread and popularity of the religion. We examine some well-known examples and explore their impact on the international perception of Shinto. Tourism also plays a significant role in relation to Shinto. Many tourists from around the world visit Japan to experience the impressive Shinto shrines and participate in traditional ceremonies. We analyze the impact of tourism on Shinto sites and the challenges they face.