Open Daily: 10am - 10pm | Alley door pickup 10am - 7pm 3038 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN
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  • Open Daily: 10am - 10pm
    Alley-side Pickup: 10am - 7pm

    3038 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN
    612-822-4611

Open Daily: 10am - 10pm | Alley-side Pickup: 10am - 7pm
3038 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN
612-822-4611
Shinto, The Ancient Religion of Japan: A Restored Introduction to the Way of the Gods

Shinto, The Ancient Religion of Japan: A Restored Introduction to the Way of the Gods

Ashton, William George

Paperback

Shintoism

ISBN13: 9798273562776
Publisher: Independently Published
Published: Nov 7 2025
Pages: 120
Weight: 0.33
Height: 0.28 Width: 5.50 Depth: 8.50
Language: English
In this concise and foundational work, pioneering Japanologist William George Ashton offers a scholarly examination of Shinto, the indigenous faith of Japan. The study begins not with myth, but with ethnology, as Ashton traces the origins of the Japanese people to Northern Asia, carefully distinguishing them from their Chinese neighbors. From this anthropological basis, he proceeds to dissect the core components of early Shinto, focusing on its character as a form of nature-worship.

Ashton employs a rigorous comparative method, analyzing the similarities and, more importantly, the stark differences between Shinto and the religious traditions of China, Korea, and the Ainu. He debunks the notion of a shared religious framework with China by highlighting fundamental divergences, such as the gender of the sun deity and the supreme importance of the Sun-goddess in the Japanese pantheon. By meticulously stripping away later influences, the author provides readers with a clear, accessible introduction to the ancient beliefs and practices that form the bedrock of Japanese spiritual and cultural identity.

This edition has been digitally restored by Proyecto Alejandría, an initiative dedicated to preserving cultural heritage through advanced technology. The original text has been recovered, corrected, and structured to ensure its accessibility for future generations.

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