In The Essence of Shinto, revered Shinto master Motohisa Yamakage explains the core values of Shinto and explores both basic tenets and its more esoteric points in terms readily accessible to the modern Western reader. He shows how the long history of Shintoism is deeply woven into the fabric of Japanese spirituality and mythology--indeed, it is regarded as Japan's very spiritual roots--and discusses its role in modern Japan and the world. He also carefully analyzes the relationship of thespirit and the soul, which will provide informed and invaluable insight into how spirituality affects our daily existence. Through the author's emphasis on the universality of Shinto and its prevalence in the natural world, the book will appeal to all readers with an appreciation of humanity's place in nature and the individual's role in the larger society.
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From Publishers Weekly
Western visitors to Japan sometimes come away with the idea that Shinto, Japan's indigenous religion, is a "dead" tradition, with shrines preserved as mere historic sites or tourist traps. Not so, claims Yamakage, who represents "the 79th generation of an ancient Shinto tradition" and makes a case for living Shinto as a faith-based religion that is predicated on "the belief in the presence of the kami," or spirits. Yamakage calls for a return to koshinto, the ancient Shinto practice that he says had no shrines at all, and for a rejection of the "secular, materialistic, atheistic society" that he believes modern Japan has become. He offers a strong introduction to Shinto, stressing that it is nondogmatic, nondoctrinal and almost wholly decentralized. Still, Shintoists are united by a reverence for nature and an emphasis on self-purification, particularly through water rituals and cleansing. The book is nicely designed, with an excellent layout and black-and-white photos throughout. At times, Yamakage's voice can be overly strident, as when challenging the faith and motivations of some contemporary Shinto priests. Overall, however, this is a fine primer that makes a compelling case for Shinto as a religion invested with deep meaning. (May)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
Yamakage, the seventy-ninth grand master (he retired in 2005) of the school of Shinto that bears his family name, believes that Shinto well addresses disillusion with materialism and renewed interest in spirituality. Largely dispensing with Shinto's history, he discusses its character and practices. Reverence toward nature is the bedrock of Shinto, which otherwise has neither doctrine, commandments, gods, idols, nor organization. It does use shrines, great and small, to center devotion, and the aim of the individual adherent is to purify thought, behavior, and person to live aright, by which Shinto means what is called living the Dao, following the way, and so forth in other religions. The Yamakage theory of one spirit, four souls; the Shinto view of the afterlife; and some physical exercises--highly reminiscent of yoga, since they are concerned with breathing, and of zen, since they involve clearing the mind--are the topics of the last three chapters of this exceptionally handsome, to-the-point primer on the faith that now-more-prevalent Buddhism and Christianity both found when they came to Japan. Ray Olson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent both introductory & final work on general paganism/ancestor worship
Jun 25 2012
By Trolly
Format:Hardcover
The strength of this book lies in its openness to the world at large. Motohisa Yamakage makes clear that it is not to be read in a vacuum. It is not just a work introducing westerners to Shinto, he says, but a book opening them to ancestor worship and gaia generally. Here lies the crux of my complaint though that in using words like Gaia instead of.. let's say.. Tiamat; the personification of chaos, primordial goddess of the ocean mating with Abzu the God of fresh water in producing younger Gods.. and something I found personally grating was his use of the word faith for an experiential practice.. he does a lot of disservice to himself and his arguments simply by using the wrong terms that may confound the reader enough to not understand on the fullest level.
I highly recommend reading THE SACRED & THE PROFANE by Mircea Eliade as a companion primer since he is more clear regarding the ontological nature of religious practice... to get the full bang out of this little but exceptional book.. Mircea Eliade's book just mentioned is a comparatively light read itself as well.
Bar none this is the book about reiki.
Yeah I just said it.
I know you didn't necessarily expect that to come out of this book,
but reiki is little more than a bastardization of Shinto.
Think critically and consider.
If this were to get passed around enough in that circle all of those folks will be out of their money and 'market corner'
It is then also a disruptive, rebellious little tome because it teaches you how to worship and attune solitarily.
If it were not for the mixing up of terms and overall just using the wrong word in many places and poor vocabulary this book would get 5 stars from me.
Best book on paganism that I have ever read or seen.
I highly recommend reading THE SACRED & THE PROFANE by Mircea Eliade as a companion primer since he is more clear regarding the ontological nature of religious practice... to get the full bang out of this little but exceptional book.. Mircea Eliade's book just mentioned is a comparatively light read itself as well.
Bar none this is the book about reiki.
Yeah I just said it.
I know you didn't necessarily expect that to come out of this book,
but reiki is little more than a bastardization of Shinto.
Think critically and consider.
If this were to get passed around enough in that circle all of those folks will be out of their money and 'market corner'
It is then also a disruptive, rebellious little tome because it teaches you how to worship and attune solitarily.
If it were not for the mixing up of terms and overall just using the wrong word in many places and poor vocabulary this book would get 5 stars from me.
Best book on paganism that I have ever read or seen.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.3 out of 5 stars
11 reviews
21 of 23 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
An Informative Overview From A True Believer
Aug 12 2007
By Craig Alan Loewen
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
Motohisa Yamakage's The Essence of Shinto is a unique work in the annals of exploring Shintoism, the folk religion of ancient Japan. Unlike scholarly works that explore the religion from position of a researcher's emotional sterility, Yamakage writes from the perspective of the true believer as he is the 79th Grand Master of Yamakage Shinto and a respected and celebrated expert on Shintoism, its history and practice.
However, being that close to the subject also carries with it some inherent problems as the author finds it difficult to remain unbiased in discussing the classic religions of the western world. A well-earned mastery of Shintoism does not necessarily make one an expert in evaluating other paradigms.
Nonetheless, The Essence of Shinto is a wonderful addition to the library of any researcher who wants a readable and accessible overview of a folk religion that has played a major role in the shaping of the culture Japan. One caveat though. It is helpful, though probably not totally necessary, to have a basic understanding of Japanese culture before reading this work.
Sadly, this is the only volume written by Motohisa Yamakage that has been translated into English. His five-volume An Introduction to Shinto is available only in Japanese and it is this reviewer's hope that someday this important work will also be made accessible to Western reader. Until then, we can be grateful The Essence of Shinto fills an important niche in the Shinto library presently available.
However, being that close to the subject also carries with it some inherent problems as the author finds it difficult to remain unbiased in discussing the classic religions of the western world. A well-earned mastery of Shintoism does not necessarily make one an expert in evaluating other paradigms.
Nonetheless, The Essence of Shinto is a wonderful addition to the library of any researcher who wants a readable and accessible overview of a folk religion that has played a major role in the shaping of the culture Japan. One caveat though. It is helpful, though probably not totally necessary, to have a basic understanding of Japanese culture before reading this work.
Sadly, this is the only volume written by Motohisa Yamakage that has been translated into English. His five-volume An Introduction to Shinto is available only in Japanese and it is this reviewer's hope that someday this important work will also be made accessible to Western reader. Until then, we can be grateful The Essence of Shinto fills an important niche in the Shinto library presently available.
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Essence of Shinto
Jan 24 2008
By Spica
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
"respect for great nature" - that's the very essence of this brilliant book. Especially, Chapter 2 "What is Shinto?" and Chapter 3 "What is Jinja?" help you understand the way of thinking and feeling among Japanese. These two chapters summarize the spirit of Shinto (For beginners, it would be helpful to try reading these two chapters).
This book is the translated one from the Japanese original version and written in a kind of "Japanese style English", but it excellently carries the essence.
This book is the translated one from the Japanese original version and written in a kind of "Japanese style English", but it excellently carries the essence.
15 of 17 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Clear Exposition of the Essence of Shinto
July 17 2007
By Samuel Makaya
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
The clear exposition of Shinto in this book has an authentic feel of a genuine transmission. Many books give bits and pieces of Shinto philosophy but do not hit the heart. The translation into English is clear and succinct. Due to the clarity of the understanding that is transmitted, I can easily adopt a 'Shinto perspective' to my own spiritual practice.
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Go to Amazon.com to see all 11 reviews
4.3 out of 5 stars
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