Customer Reviews

Shinto the Kami Way

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
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This is perhaps the best known (and most widely available)introductory treatise of the Shinto religion. While Ono's The Kami Way certainly deserves its notoriety, those who wish a deeper philosophical coverage of this poorly understood religion will be a bit disappointed, for Dr. Ono really just scratches the surface and seldom goes beyond the topics of shrine architecture, ceremonial trappings, and local and national shrine administration. The mythology/cosmology of Shinto is briefly addressed, and I believe that the average western reader will find the nature of Shinto even more perplexing after reading this book for that very reason: Ono calls Shinto "a religion without theology", but no religion is without theology, regardless of how ancient it is (for example, I would have found a few examples of instances of local nature spirits being transformed into Buddhist saints most informative). For those totally unfamiliar with Shinto, I will make this rough comparison: imagin if the ancient European pagan religions had survived the Christian domination of the late Middle Ages and continued to exist in organized forms, occasionally incorporating Christian concepts into their own respective worldviews and religious ceremonies (as Shinto did to a limited extent with the imported Buddhist religion). Despite its scant coverage of actual religious matters, The Kami Way lucidly describes the mundane matters of this faith's temporal administration (and provides much coverage of shrine conditions and inter-provincial/national relations, with an emphasis on comparison between standards before and after World War Two). I highly reccommend this book as an introduction for the curious.

"Shinto: The Kami Way," by Sokyo Ono, is an overview of Shinto, which the author defines as "the indigenous faith of the Japanese people." William P. Woodard is given an "in collaboration with" credit on the title page, and also contributes a preface. The book also features illustrations by Sadao Sakamoto, who is identified on the title page as a Priest of the Yasukuni Shrine. The title page and back cover offer some information on author Ono, who is identified as a Professor at Kokogakuin University, a Shinto university in Tokyo, and as a Lecturer for the Association of Shinto Shrines.

The foreword by Hideo Kishimoto notes that this book was first published in 1960; the copyright page notes further that the Tuttle edition has a copyright date of 1962, and has gone through 30 printings as of 2003. The book is generously illustrated not only with Sakamoto's drawings, but also with many black-and-white photographs. The book is relatively short (116 plus xii pages), and the main text is divided into five chapters: "The Kami Way," "Shrines," "Worship and Festivals," "Political and Social Characteristics," and "Some Spiritual Characteristics." The text covers many Shinto topics: mythology, important historic texts, the use of symbolic artifacts, the distinctive gateways known as torii, shrine architecture, the priesthood, home worship, sacred dances, Shinto's centuries-old relationship with Japanese Buddhism, emperor worship, tree worship, sacred mountains, ethics and more.

Ono also discusses the kami, which he describes as "the objects of worship in Shinto." In his preface, Woodard states that translating the word "kami" as "god" is misleading, and suggests that the word "kami," rather than being subject to a problematic translation, should simply be incorporated into the English language. Ono concludes the book by noting that while Shinto is an ethnic faith specific to the Japanese people, "it possesses a universality which can enrich the lives of all people everywhere." This is a fascinating and well-written book, and the text is well complemented by the many illustrations. I especially enjoyed the photos of the serene-looking Shinto temples. In a relatively small space Ono conveys a sense of the epic history and evolution of Shinto, as well as its enduring power and appeal. I found the book not only educational, but also inspiring in a subtle yet satisfying way.

Shinto is one of those religions that usually gets short listed at the back of books on world religions, if it gets in at all, yet it's crucial to understanding some of the underlying currents in Japanese thinking and behavior. This work is a well organized, straight-forward introduction to the subject. The real explanatory gem, however, is found in chapter five, where Shinto beliefs on a number of key issues are both clearly and concisely outline, and contrasted with traditional Western views.

As the author of this decades old volume takes pains to point out, Shinto is a hard subject to pin down. Because the shrines seen across Japan essentially grew out of the worship of thousands and thousands of separate divinites (most representing a different agricultural clan), there is no central scripture to follow in order to explain Shinto.

That being said, this volume is accurate and written by a respected authority within the Shinto world. Thus, the trustworthy knowledge in this book would be a great addition to any travellers backpack in Japan. Shinto shrines are everywhere there, and this book goes some distance in uravelling these mysterious nature/god shrines.

Another good thing about this book is it's non-indulgent, straightforward and unassuming style. Longtime Japan residents and first-time visitors are sure to get something out of it - whether it is the configuration of prayer papers, why prayers are tied to certain trees or why certain shrine buildings are built in one architectural fashion or another.

The main drawback for me is that this book fails to give enough of an inventory (or pictures) of the major shinto divinities. I know there are thousands, maybe millions of these gods, but a small gallery of 50 or so would be both fascinating and revealing.

A lesser drawback is the opaque way in which the author mentions but sidesteps Shinto's role in Japanese nationalism, while simultaneously suggesting that only Japanese people can fully be Shinto.

But, in any case, this book is cheap enough and worth the effort if you spend any time in Japan. B+

This brief volume covers the essentials of Shinto and is a great introduction to the subject for Western audiences who wish to have a deeper understanding of Japanese culture, history and especially religious context.

This is a delightful and engaging read by a respected author. Depending upon your purposes, it may be all you need. If you are a very serious student of Japanese culture or world religions, you may want to take it as a good starting point on this topic.

The text is a bit dry, but I recommend this book for anyone who is looking for a basic introduction to the rituals and beliefs of the Shinto religion. This religion is fascinating and really doesn't get the attention it deserves.

Originally published in 1960 as "Bulletin #8" from the government-sponsored International Institute for the Study of Religions, "Shinto: The Kami Way" was written to serve as an English-language introduction to Japan's native religion. While somewhat dated in use of language and pictures, the fact that the book is still in print more than fifty years later says that author Ono Sokyo did a good job of it.

And Ono did do a good job. He stayed mostly on the surface, discussed the establishment of shrines, who pays for them and what their role is, who the priests are and what their role is, what are some of the important shrines and architectural style. He writes about the significance of certain objects like the shimenawa rope you see at many shrines, or the costumes of the priests and shrine maidens. He sheds some light on some of the rituals, on the history of Shinto through WWII and after, and the role of Shinto in the home and in the community. This is very much a "nuts and bolts" guide to the world of Shinto.

For the rest, for the nature of kami and the beliefs of Shinto, he simply says:

"It is impossible to make explicit and clear what that which fundamentally by its very nature is vague."

This is the aspect that many Westerners find so mystifying about Shinto. It falls too far outside what they think of as "religion." There are no prophets or holy men, no bible or salvation, no afterlife, no forbidden fruits, no code of moral conduct. Shinto is a life-affirming religion, and all things associated with life; sex, pain, indulgence, lust, joy, abandon; are good. Getting completely drunk and stuffing yourself like a pig on expensive treats is one of the most holy ways to honor the spirits. There is no concept of sin; the most one can be is dirty (the kami like things clean).

Shinto is also not so much a system of beliefs as an organization of rituals and traditions. Even reading some of the reviews for this book, it is clear how difficult a concept this is for people to grasp. One reviewer wanted to see a gallery of images of kami, even though Ono makes it explicit that kami have no form and are never depicted in art. Another reviewer insists that there MUST be a doctrine and theology for Shinto, and somehow Ono didn't include it in his book. But Ono is right. No such thing exists.

In truth, as Ono writes, Shinto is more of a collection of rituals, traditions and superstitions bound up in a very loose belief system. One cannot say "I am Shinto" in the way you would say "I am Buddhist" or "I am Catholic." That would be like saying "I am Christmas" because you put up a tree every year. In fact, most Japanese people have never even heard the word Shinto, and if you told them they were being religious just because they had a shrine at home and participated in the local festivals, they would just laugh at you. These activities are just part of daily life, part of being Japanese. And that is Shinto.

Because Shinto is something you do, not something you think about. Ono puts this succinctly in saying "Shinto is caught, and not taught" and "the strength of Shinto is in its emphasis on sensory experience derived from mystic rites and natural phenomenon rather than on theological discourse."

With this I could not agree with Ono more. As part of my Master's Degree, I have read many books and wrote many papers on Shinto, and no amount of study can really tell you what Shinto is. I would say that I have a strong understanding of the native religion of Japan, but this was gained through experience, through shouldering the heavy mikoshi as we took the local kami on a tour through the town, or burning under giant flaming torches in order to please a local fire kami, or suffering through the ordeal that is the Naked Man Festival from which not everyone comes out alive.

A book like Ono's is never going to be able to truly show you what Shinto is, any more than a book on sushi could really tell you what uni tastes like. They can talk about the history, the cultivation, the preparation, but when it comes to flavor you are really just going to have to try it for yourself.

As someone who is interested in all things Japanese, I was really excited to read Dr. Sokyo Ono's Shinto: The Kami Way. This book is held as the standard introduction to Shinto for Western readers, and for the most part, I wasn't disappointed. The author, a recognized expert on the subject, presents Shinto to the reader in plain, simple language. The bare essentials of Shinto are explored, including the architecture and layout of Shinto shrines and the rituals and festivals that are celebrated within. Unfortunately, I was seeking a more philosophical discussion of Shinto, and the author really only includes a short chapter in the back of the book that delves into the actual beliefs of Shinto. Still, the influence of Shinto on the daily life of the Japanese is addressed throughout the book and gives Western readers a glimpse into the way the Japanese have evolved along with their indigenous beliefs. I would recommend this book to all readers interested in world religions and philosophies. This is definitely a must-read for anyone who hopes to understand the Japanese people even a little bit.

When this book arrived, it was in good condition but I was not happy with the cover. I sent an email to the seller to let them know, and within minutes, I had a response! Not long after that, the sellers - belltowerbooks - had a refund of 10% all set up for me with Amazon. I am definitely going to use this seller again and again and again .... that is great customer service. And the book, despite its cover, is a great book and one that I needed for studying. In the end, I am quite happy with this entire transaction!

Very concise short book on a very deep and complicated matter, gives a very clear over view of the subject. Very handy to have on your shelf.