Shinto, Nature and Ideology in Contemporary Japan

Rots, Aike P.

ISBN 10: 1350105910 / ISBN 13: 9781350105911

Published by BLOOMSBURY 3PL, 2019

Seller Inventory # 256051335

Synopsis:

Shinto, Nature and Ideology in Contemporary Japan is the first systematic study of Shinto's environmental turn. The book traces the development in recent decades of the idea of Shinto as an 'ancient nature religion,' and a resource for overcoming environmental problems. The volume shows how these ideas gradually achieved popularity among scientists, priests, Shinto-related new religious movements and, eventually, the conservative shrine establishment.

Aike P. Rots argues that central to this development is the notion of chinju no mori: the sacred groves surrounding many Shinto shrines. Although initially used to refer to remaining areas of primary or secondary forest, today the term has come to be extended to any sort of shrine land, signifying not only historical and ecological continuity but also abstract values such as community spirit, patriotism and traditional culture.

The book shows how Shinto's environmental turn has also provided legitimacy internationally: influenced by the global discourse on religion and ecology, in recent years the Shinto establishment has actively engaged with international organizations devoted to the conservation of sacred sites. Shinto sacred forests thus carry significance locally as well as nationally and internationally, and figure prominently in attempts to reposition Shinto in the centre of public space.

About the Author: Priya Swamy is a Postdoctoral Researcher at Leiden University in the Netherlands.

Bibliographic Details

Title: Shinto, Nature and Ideology in Contemporary ...
Publisher: BLOOMSBURY 3PL
Publication Date: 2019
Binding: Soft cover
Condition: New