| NOTA |
(★)(Titulo original : 神道 [小野祖教])(Shinto, the indigenous faith of the Japanese people, has long been a source of fascination both for the casual visitor to Japan and for the long-time resident. The strange symbolism, the exotic rites and ceremonies, the colorful festivals, and the mystic atmosphere of the shrines exert an irresistible attraction for the foreigner. At the same time, these attributes of Shinto indicate to the discerning observer how deeply the cult pervades the life of the Japanese, and it is small wonder that they stimulate in him a desire to explore further this aspect of Japan´s culture. The present book, though claiming to be no more than a modest introduction to a most complex subject, provides expert guidance for such exploration. Shinto, often called the Way of the Gods, is relatively unknown among the religions of the world, although to the Japanese it is as old as time. In its general aspects it is more than a religious faith, for it is an amalgam of attitudes, ideas, and ways of doing things that through two millenniums and more have become an integral part of the ´way´ of the Japanese people. It is both a personal faith in the ´kami´ --the sacred spirits which are the objects of worship in Shinto-- and a communal way of life according to the mind of the kami. Beginning with an explanation of this concept, this introduction to Shinto proceeds to an account of the other aspects of present-day shrine Shinto : the shrines themselves, their architecture, and their paraphernalia ; priests and shrine functionaries ; parishes and parishioners. This is followed by a discussion of worship and festivals, including descriptions of dances, music, and sacred regalia. These facets of Shinto are graphically portrayed in the fifteen photographs and the numerous black-and-white drawings with which the book is illustrated. In a section of particular interest to the student of modern Japan, the author outlines the political and social characteristics of Shinto, touching upon government policy and upon the relations between Shinto and art, economic life, other religions, and everyday customs. The book concludes with a treatment of some of the spiritual characteristics of the religion, including transmission of the faith ; shrines and nature ; and the concepts of the world, man, salvation, and death. ◆The author, Dr. Sokyo Ono, is outstandingly qualified to present this introduction to Shinto. In addition to serving as a professor at the great Shinto university, Kokugakuin Daigaku, and as a lecturer for the national Association of Shinto Shrines, he holds the important positions of executive director of the International Institute for the Study of Religions and executive director of the Japan Religious Co-operative Council. His collaborator, William P. Woodard, was in charge of the research unit of the Religious and Cultural Resources Division, Civil Information and Education Section, SCAP, from 1946 to 1952.) |
BASE de DATOS, Biblioteca del Centro Cultural de la Embajada de Japon
印刷用ページ