Shinto the Kami Way

Shinto the Kami Way by One, Sokyo. paperback edition. ISBN: 9780804805254.

"An excellently rounded introduction by an eminent Shinto scholar."—Library JournalShinto, the indigenous faith of the Japanese people, continues to fascinate and mystify both the casual visitor to Japan and the long-time resident. Relatively unknown among the religions of the world, The Kami Way provides an enlightening window into this Japanese faith.In its general aspects Shinto is more than a religious faith. It is an amalgam of attitudes, ideas, and ways of doing things that through two millennia and more have become an integral part of the way of the Japanese people. Shinto is both a personal faith in the kami—objects of worship in Shinto and an honorific for noble, sacred spirits—and a communal way of life according to the mind of the kami. This introduction unveils Shintos spiritual characteristics and discusses the architecture and function of Shinto shrines. Further examination of Shintos lively festivals, worship, music, and sacred regalia illustrates Shintos influence on all levels of Japanese life.Fifteen photographs, numerous drawings and Dr. Onos text introduce the reader to two millennia of indigenous Japanese belief in the kami and in communal life.Chapters The Kami WayShrinesWorship and FestivalsPolitical and Social CharacteristicsSome Spiritual Characteristics