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  • The Essence of Shinto: Japan's Spiritual Heart
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The Essence of Shinto: Japan's Spiritual Heart Hardcover – Illustrated, Sept. 7 2012

by Motohisa Yamakage (Author)
4.6 out of 5 stars 331 ratings
3.7 on Goodreads
616 ratings

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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 the spirit 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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  1. Print length
    232 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Kodansha International
  4. Publication date
    Sept. 7 2012
  5. Dimensions
    14 x 2.11 x 19.66 cm
  6. ISBN-10
    1568364377
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1568364377
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Product description

Review

"Renowned Shinto master Motohisa Yamakage takes us to the core of Japan’s most ancient religion." —Clear



"Outstanding introduction, …thoughtful readers can hardly do better than this intelligent insider’s guide. Highly recommended." —Library Journal



"…will function as an introduction to ideal Shinto practice…"—Choice

About the Author

MOTOHISA YAMAKAGE was born in 1925 and brought up in an old Shintoist family. At the age of eighteen he was initiated into the mysteries of Shinto, and in 1956 became the 79th Grand Master of Yamakage Shinto. Grand Master Yamakage has played a leading role in introducing Shinto to people around the world. Many of his essays, translated into German, French, and English, have been published in leading European magazines. In 2005, Motohisa Yamakage retired and was succeeded by his son, Hitoyoshi Yamakage.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kodansha International
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ Sept. 7 2012
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ Illustrated
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 232 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1568364377
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1568364377
  • Item weight ‏ : ‎ 399 g
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 14 x 2.11 x 19.66 cm
  • 鶹 Rank: #143,799 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 331 ratings

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Motohisa Yamakage

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4.6 out of 5 stars
331 global ratings

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Top reviews from Canada

  • Dominic Audet
    5.0 out of 5 stars Lives up to its title
    Reviewed in Canada on September 15, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I found this book to be well written and easily comprehensible giving a good overview of Shinto and even sharing some basic practices for one’s self.
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  • Teflon
    5.0 out of 5 stars I would definitely recommend to read it
    Reviewed in Canada on January 22, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Motohisa Yamakage provides a concise and remarkable introduction into Shinto. This book is mostly about Shinto principals rather than its history. I would definitely recommend to read it!
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  • Max
    4.0 out of 5 stars Very detailed
    Reviewed in Canada on June 30, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    A thorough encyclopedic treatment of the Shinto religion, written by a 79th generation Shinto master. Nothing more to say...
    One person found this helpful
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  • Anna Glushkovsky
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on April 1, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Very insightful read
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  • FrizzyDisaster
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
    Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I was born in the US but my grandmother is for Okinawa. I wanted to learn about Shinto to better connect with her and the author’s authority/ history/ and knowledge about the practice of Shinto was delivered perfectly to someone like me, who did not grow up nor had any prior knowledge about Shinto.
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  • 鶹 Kunde
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Essence of Shinto
    Reviewed in Germany on April 27, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Great book about my religion Shinto.I am very satisfied with the price of the book and the fast delivery. Thank you very much.
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  • 鶹 カスタマー
    5.0 out of 5 stars I highly recommend this book!
    Reviewed in Japan on July 31, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Who’s looking for lights into the path, The Essence of Shinto will be an invaluable door.
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  • James Rosberg
    5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring Book, really made me see the differences between Shinto and Buddhism
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 3, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    I like to think of myself as a Shintoist but not to the extreme, I really do believe a lot of their mindset and practices, some of it can be a bit strange and maybe over the top but as this isn't so much of a religion but a culturist this has made my mind more clear that I want to keep pursuing my Shinto practices every week.
    I've not finished the book yet but I'm over half way, its really worth a read if you're interested in Shintoism!
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  • Mariano Jc
    2.0 out of 5 stars Un libro sobre el shintoismo
    Reviewed in Spain on November 20, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    El libro es interesante para intentar entender cierta esencia del shintoismo a partir de la creación de santuarios, rituales y ritos, sus escrituras, y la organización de los kami, pero uno se ve obligado a esperar a lo interesante mientras el autor trata de explicar lo único que es el shinto respecto de otras religiones, entre el nacionalismo o japonés-centrismo, la ingenua visión que tiene el autor de las religiones que desconoce y su estrecha o reductiva idea acerca de lo que es la religión organizada. El autor tampoco ejerce la autocrítica pues no considera que el papel que tuvo el Shinto de Estado en el brutal imperialismo japonés de la segunda guerra mundial es una continuación de la faceta teocrática que las emperatrices y emperadores le han dado al Shinto. El autor escribe como un creyente que ve lo sagrado en su religión y distorsiona las otras con ideas simplistas acerca de cómo son. Escribe que en el Shinto no hay fundador pero la emperatriz Ginmei le dió forme, lo oficializó que es lo que hace un fundador de una religión basada en una tradición como lo son el budismo, el cristianismo, el islam, las religiones vendánticas, etcétera, escribe que no hay textos sagrados pero al Kojiki y al Nihonshoki se les da una interpretación casi literal, escribe que no hay mandamientos pero hay preceptos morales y otros como los prejuicios acerca de la muerte, la enfermedad e incluso la menstruación, escribe que no hay organización pero hay una jerarquía de sacerdotes y el emperador es el máximo responsable del Shinto... como en una iglesia, por ejemplo, como la iglesia anglicana en que el rey es también el máximo representante de la iglesia, ... son incongruencias. No obstante, después del abrupto comienzo, entra en una descripción propiamente dicha de las creencias y las prácticas rituales del Shinto. Se pueden leer cuestiones interesantes como la idea del espíritu o fuerza vital única y que da vida o existencia a todos los seres, y la idea de la cooperación de todos los seres en la organización del cosmos. Se explican y se tratan rituales como el "misogi" o el "harai". Se explica cómo se estructuran los kami. Se trata de la práctica del "chikon", y del "furutama" esta última un tipo de meditación que me resulta divertida. Aunque el Shinto se halle muy organizado, con santurarios, ritos de purificación, rituales de purificación y adoración, una jerarquía de kami a los que se reza e invoca, una jerarquía de sacerdotes politizada por el emperador como cabeza tanto del Shinto como de Japón, y además diversas escrituras, su trasfondo es animista, y hay mujeres chamanes, como el vudú, y como los menos estructurados y no jerarquizados animismos de los aborígenes australianos y esquimales, aunque también no organizada jerárquicamente pero con una filosofía desarrollada es la religión jain, la cual también muestra consideración por todos los seres, vivos y físicos, pero que no está politizada.
    En resumen, desde mi punto de vista, el Shinto es una iglesia por su organización jerarquizada, con santuarios, sacerdotes, rituales públicos de purificación y de adoración, ritos privados de purificación, de adoración y de devoción en que se busca la santidad, escrituras, y creencia poli-panteista (politeista+panteista) en infinitud de kami que forman una congregación jerarquizada, y que ha sido politizado por los emperadores y el estado.
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