Shinto shrines in prewar and wartime Japan / Helen Hardacre with Yoko Suemoto.
| Author/creator | Hardacre, Helen, 1949- author. |
| Other author | Suemoto, Yoko, author. |
| Format | Book |
| Publication | Cambridge : Harvard University Asia Center, 2025. |
| Distribution | Cambridge, Massachusetts : Distributed by Harvard University Press, 2025 |
| Copyright Date | ©2025 |
| Description | xv, 402 pages : illustrations (chiefly color), color maps ; 24 cm. |
| Subjects |
| Series | Harvard East Asian monograph series ; Harvard East Asian monographs ; 479. ^A21267 |
| Contents | Public Funding of Shrines Begins -- Shrine Funding at the Local Level -- Reflections on Part I -- Shrine Funding from 1917 through 1927 -- Haves and Have-Nots among Shrines -- Reflections on Part II -- Shrine Funding from 1928 through 1936 -- New Patterns in Shrine Life -- Reflections on Part III -- Shrine Funding from 1937 through the end of the war -- Praying for victory, coping with conscription -- Misogi, Spiritual cultivation, and personal transformation -- A wartime shrine priest -- Reflections on part IV. |
| Abstract | "This book examines the religious and social history of Shinto shrines in prewar and wartime Japan, focusing on the economic, social, and ideological implications of State Shinto. It argues that politicians regarded public funding of shrines as crucial for elevating their "dignity" and for curbing progressive thought and activism. Understanding the social and financial dynamics of both major and smaller shrines is key to comprehending State Shinto's broader impact on Japanese society. The study employs a historical analysis using shrine records, personal diaries, contemporary literature, and government documents. It includes case studies contextualizing events at specific shrines within broader social and political change, personal accounts of priests and laypeople, and statistical analysis of funding patterns. This comprehensive approach provides valuable insights into the role of religious institutions in politics and ideology. By highlighting the nuanced experiences of smaller shrines, their priests, and associated laypeople, the study enhances understanding of State Shinto's reach and influence, contributing to broader discussions on the interplay between religion, politics, and society in modern Japanese history"-- Provided by publisher. |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references and index. |
| LCCN | 2025002642 |
| ISBN | 9780674302594 |
| ISBN | 0674302591 hardcover |
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