PDF Ebook A Year in the Life of a Shinto Shrine, by John K. Nelson

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A Year in the Life of a Shinto Shrine, by John K. Nelson

PDF Ebook A Year in the Life of a Shinto Shrine, by John K. Nelson

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From Library Journal

Nelson (Asian studies, Univ. of Texas, Austin), who has lived and taught in Japan, shows great sensitivity to the difficulty Westerners have in approaching Shinto, sometimes called the most Japanese of religions. Following a basic introduction, he describes in fairly simple terms the details of significant rituals and festivals that take place at Suwa shrine in Nagasaki. His book goes a long way toward shedding light on the unique mythology and outlook on Shinto, at times drawing significant parallels with Native American concepts. Nelson explores the connections between Shinto and the somewhat fanatical ends to which it was put in service of the political agenda of World War II Japan; he also examines the implications of the presence of this particular shrine in the heart of one of the cities on which the bomb was dropped. In his introductory and concluding chapters, Nelson reflects on the resurgent nationalism to which Shinto might once again fall prey, and these chapters strike a different, somewhat editorializing tone. On the whole, however, the book is scholarly as well as readable. Recommended for Asian studies collections and other public and academic collections with an interest in the subject.?Mark Woodhouse, Elmira Coll. Lib., N.Y.Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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From the Back Cover

What we today call Shinto has been at the heart of Japanese culture for almost as long as there has been political entity distinguishing itself as Japan. A Year in the Life of a Shinto Shrine describes the ritual cycle at Suwa Shrine, Nagasaki's major Shinto shrine. Conversations with priests, other shrine personnel, and people attending shrine functions supplement John K. Nelson's observations of over fifty shrine rituals and festivals. He elicits their views on the meaning and personal relevance of the religious events and the place of Shinto and Suwa Shrine in Japanese society, culture, and politics. Nelson focuses on the very human side of an ancient institution and provides a detailed look at beliefs and practices that, although grounded in natural cycles, are nonetheless meaningful in late-twentieth-century Japanese society.

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Product details

Paperback: 288 pages

Publisher: University of Washington Press; First Edition edition (April 1, 1996)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0295975008

ISBN-13: 978-0295975009

Product Dimensions:

6.1 x 0.7 x 9.2 inches

Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review:

4.7 out of 5 stars

13 customer reviews

Amazon Best Sellers Rank:

#277,029 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book but it came highly recommended in relation to questions I had been asking online about Shinto. I have enjoyed the insight it gives from its first perspective of the goings on of the shrine as well as relevant history and social influences of the shrine as well as Shinto as a whole.

The author uses a major Shinto Shrine, Nagasaki's Suwa Shrine, as the focus of the book. It starts out with chapters about Kami, the history of the shrine and a overview of rituals and ceremonies then the book is cut up into Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. It has lots of details, including, in the back, a map of the shrine, glossary of terms, list of festivals and rituals of the Suwa Shrine and works cited. The details are about this ONE Shrine, so if you wanted a book on all kami and shrines in Japan THIS is not it. Yet it does give a nice first person account of events in a Shinto Shrine, dealing with beliefs, practices and how the shrine interacts with the city's community, businesses and families. Kind of like seeing the forest by examing one of the trees.A must for people interested in Shintoism or Japan.

For someone interested in the "human" side of Shinto religion, Nelson's book is a fascinating study of a religion little understood by most westerners. Its best to skip the introductory chapters, which are a bit pedantic and dry, and start with the actual description of shrine activities. Nelson is most interesting when talking about the priests and their relationship with Shinto, their "parishioners" and each other. Ultimately, it is this sort of writing that convinces the reader that Shinto is not a bunch of exotic rituals, but has a very real meaning and value in its followers lives. Written in 1996, Nelson poses a number of questions about Shinto's future throughout the book. It would be interesting if a second edition of the book was published updating the reader on the present activities of the shrine and its priests.

As a student of comparative religions, I enjoy seeking understanding not only through academic texts, but also through "armchair anthropology" in which the author takes me to places I would never otherwise experience and shows me cultures I might otherwise not understand. I thoroughly enjoyed this trip through the seasons of worship in a Shinto shrine.

This is a great treatment of the activity of a prominent Shinto shrine.Professor Nelson covers the subject thoroughly and in a very readable style. I especially found his liberal perspective insightful and informative.

A nice look at the ancient in the midst of a very modern society. It shows well that a sense of connection to something larger helps people weather the troubling realities of life. The writing is a little dry, but it is an unusual and important piece of cultural anthropology.

Very good read if one is interested in Shintoism! Highly suggested.

This is an excellent book for understanding Shinto.Many books on religion talk about abstract philosophies or creation myths as if those were the only things that mattered in a religion. But the day-to-day religion shouldn't be ignored, the rituals shouldn't be forgotten.This book takes the approach of showing what life is like at a typical shrine, what things a priest or visitor thinks and worries about. It uses that as a framework to talk about the principals and philosophies of the religion, teaching you to understand Shinto the way a Japanese person growing up might experience it.For example, praying for blessings for a good new year is more important than the creation myths, and you will understand that.

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