W. G. Aston

Shinto: The ancient religion of Japan (eBook, ePUB)

• Format: ePub

Produktbeschreibung

Kami is the ordinary Japanese word for God. It means primarily above, superior, and is applied to many other things besides deities, such as nobles, the authorities, the ‘missus,’ the hair of the head, the upper waters of a river, the part of Japan near Kiōto, etc. Height is in every country associated with excellence and divinity, no doubt because the first deities were the Sun and other Heavenly objects. We ourselves speak of the ‘Most High’ and use phrases like ‘Good Heavens’ which testify to a personification of the sky by our forefathers. But though Kami corresponds in a general way to ‘God,’ it has some important limitations. The Kami are high, swift, good, rich, living, but not infinite, omnipotent, or omniscient. Most of them had a father and mother, and of some the death is recorded. Motoöri, the great Shinto theologian, writing in the latter part of the eighteenth century, says:— ‘The term Kami is applied in the first place to the various deities of Heaven and Earth who are mentioned in the ancient records as well as to their spirits ( mi-tama ) which reside in the shrines where they are worshipped. Moreover, not only human beings, but birds, beasts, plants and trees, seas and mountains, and all other things whatsoever which deserve to be dreaded and revered for the extraordinary and pre-eminent powers which they possess, are called Kami . They need not be eminent for surpassing nobleness, goodness, or serviceableness alone. Malignant and uncanny beings are also called Kami if only they are the objects of general dread. Among Kami who are human beings I need hardly mention first of all the successive Mikados—with reverence be it spoken....

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Skyline
• Erscheinungstermin: 21. November 2017
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 9788827520369
• Artikelnr.: 50103914

Autorenporträt

William George Aston (1841-1911) was a British diplomat, consular official, and Japanologist revered for his pioneering work in Japanese studies. After joining the British consular service in 1864, Aston was posted in Japan, where he cultivated an interest in the nation's language, history, and culture. This period abroad shaped his scholarly trajectory, which led to significant contributions to the field, particularly in Japanese language and Shinto studies. Aston's 'Shinto: The ancient religion of Japan' stands as a seminal work, offering one of the first comprehensive English-language surveys of the indigenous faith of Japan. His academic pursuits extended to Korean language and history as well, rendering his expertise instrumental in early Koreanology. Aston's literary style, reflective of the 19th-century scholarly tradition, seamlessly fused empirical research with narrative prose. His work resonates in the academic community, offering invaluable insights into East Asian studies during a formative period of western academic engagement with the region.