SHINTO
Course Description
Shinto is the religious tradition associated with the kami, the indigenous deities of Japan. It is said that there are eight million kami, ranging from the mundane and nearby to the extraordinary and distant. Throughout the past and today, Japanese have respected, implored, and feared these kami. While having strong connections to the natural world, Shinto has also manifest a deeply political and nationalistic character. Likewise, Shinto themes are heavily represented in Japanese popular culture, including anime, manga, and mascot characters. All of these complexities make Shinto an intriguing and essential topic to understand Japanese history and society. This course will take a big picture approach to the subject, unlocking the intricacies and mysteries of the kami and of kami worship.
Course Objectives
-to articulate the meaning and role of kami and shrines in contemporary Japan and throughout history
-to ascertain the larger implications for culture and society raised by the myriad issues with respect to Shinto
Shinto is the religious tradition associated with the kami, the indigenous deities of Japan. It is said that there are eight million kami, ranging from the mundane and nearby to the extraordinary and distant. Throughout the past and today, Japanese have respected, implored, and feared these kami. While having strong connections to the natural world, Shinto has also manifest a deeply political and nationalistic character. Likewise, Shinto themes are heavily represented in Japanese popular culture, including anime, manga, and mascot characters. All of these complexities make Shinto an intriguing and essential topic to understand Japanese history and society. This course will take a big picture approach to the subject, unlocking the intricacies and mysteries of the kami and of kami worship.
Course Objectives
-to articulate the meaning and role of kami and shrines in contemporary Japan and throughout history
-to ascertain the larger implications for culture and society raised by the myriad issues with respect to Shinto
