Shinto The Way Home Summary

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Kasulis, Thomas P. Shinto: The Way Home. Honolulu: U of Hawaii, 2004. PDF. Kasulis starts by comparing Shinto thought to non-Shinto ideas to lay a backbone for the rest of his analysis of this ancient Japanese religion. Once the backbone is complete he begins to discuss the connection between Japanese culture and Shinto practice by explaining many modern Japanese traditions and Shinto beliefs. Kasulis spend most of the work to bring the history of Shintoism in Japan from prehistory to 2002 as well as the mixture of Shintoism and Buddhism that eventually led to an imperialistic point of view after they were separated. He concludes this source by discussing the extenuating circumstances that led to the Yasakuni shrine controversy. Analysis: Shinto: The Way Home’s organization is quite useful because it moves in chronological order and it leads the reader in a way that allows for understanding the most unrelatable Ideas of Shintoism. The book uses many Japanese terms and names that may lead confusion for the audience as they have to learn the vocabulary to understand many of the statement Kasulis uses. Kasulis also lack an argument through most of this work and he seems to focus on supplying information as accurately as possible. The author discusses a variety information pertaining to Shintoism making it useful …show more content…

Then it discusses and defines Kami and their connection to everything and how a person may lose sight of this connection if they become polluted. Next, the article starts to explain Shinto rituals which are commonly used to purify individuals and to appease the Kami. The Writers then begins to discuss the ideas of Bataille and Buber to compare them to Shintoism throughout the article they also use interviews from Shrine priests. At the end of the article, it begins to way into Shinto festivals as it

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