project draft

Shinto is the indigenous religion of Japan and has been around more than 2,000 years. It has no sacred scriptures but is tied to the Japanese people and their traditions. Shinto means “way of the kami (gods)” and the main purpose of shrines is to house one or more kami. The original Shinto shrines were just sacred places in nature, where a natural feature such as a waterfall, tree or a rock could serve as a yorishiro that would attract and hold the kami so they could be accessible to humans. Today, shrines often have multiple buildings surrounded by a wall. I will analyze the evolution of Shinto shrines from quiet spots in nature to their current complex of buildings, including the motivations for the design changes and the resulting architectural styles.

Works Cited

Cali, Joseph and John Dougill. Shinto Shrines: A Guide to the Sacred Sites of Japan's Ancient Religion. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 2015.

Hirai, Naofusa. “The History of Shrines.” Encyclopedia of Shinto. Tokyo: Kokugakuin University, 2006.  Accessed 22 Mar. 2017.

 “Japanese Shrine Architecture.” Encyclopedia Japan. DoYouKnowJapan.com. Accessed 22 Mar. 2017.

Jinja Honcho: Association of Shinto Shrines, 2011. Accessed 22 Mar. 2017.

Kishida, Hideto. Japanese Architecture. Tokyo: Japan Travel Bureau, 1952.

Kuroda, Ryūji “History and Typology of Shrine Architecture.” Encyclopedia of Shinto. Tokyo: Kokugakuin University, 2005.  Accessed 22 Mar. 2017.

“Shinto.” Encyclopedia Japan. DoYouKnowJapan.com. Accessed 22 Mar. 2017.

"Shinto architecture." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 21 Jan. 2017. Accessed 22 Mar. 2017.

“Shrines.” Japan-Guide, 3 Feb. 2016. Accessed 22 Mar. 2017.

Young, David, Michiko Young and Tan Hong Yew. The Art of Japanese Architecture. North Clarendon, VT: Tuttle Publishing, 2007.