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Why Only Men?

As I discussed in my last post, the fact that six of the seven members of the Imperial family under the age of forty are women might be taken as a reason to allow women to become Tennō. However, the Shinto establishment is firmly opposed to this. Why? Your immediate hypothesis might well be “Because they are a bunch of sexist fossils”. I have to admit that the evidence suggests that this may well be true of some of them. However, there are, in fact, better reasons for this position.… Read More »Why Only Men?

Imperial Succession

The Shinto establishment is extremely concerned with the position of the Tennō in Japanese society. There are a number of reasons for this, among them the fact that the ceremonies he performs for, and offerings he makes to, the kami are of great significance in many views of Shinto. The position of Tennō is also hereditary. It can only be held by someone from the Imperial line, and there is an oracle to that effect from Hachiman Ōkami, issued in the eighth century when a Buddhist monk was trying to… Read More »Imperial Succession

Hatsumōdë by Setsubun

My local jinja has just put a sign up on the front of the prayer hall saying “Hatsumōdë by Setsubun”. Hatsumōdë is the first jinja visit of the new year. Traditionally, it is supposed to be done in the first three days of the year, which means that those three days have been extremely busy at most jinja; Meiji Jingū in Tokyo normally gets about three million visitors in that time. Most people just go to the jinja and pay their respects in front of the prayer hall, but quite… Read More »Hatsumōdë by Setsubun

Hewing Wood and Drawing Water

Early in their reign, the new Tennō performs the Daijōsai, one of the most important rituals in Shinto. I’m not going to write about that here, although I did write two essays about it, which you can now buy from Amazon through this handy affiliate link. The rice offered at the Daijōsai is grown in two sacred fields, with many ceremonies. But I’m not going to write about those ceremonies, either. The sacred fields are chosen through an ancient divination ceremony. I’m not going to write about that. I’m going… Read More »Hewing Wood and Drawing Water

Comments from a Priest

Rev Olivia Bernkastel, a Shinto priest in the Konkōkyō tradition, made some interesting comments on my post “Multiply Religious“. Readers might find her perspective interesting; while we have a lot of points of agreement, her take on things is slightly different from mine.

Right-Wing Priests

The November 9th issue of Jinja Shinpō had an interview with the chief priest of Hokkaidō Jingū, who has just been appointed a Chōrō. This appointment is a pure honour, given to priests who have made an important contribution to Jinja Shinto over the course of several decades. They receive a staff with a small statue of a pigeon on top — this is historically significant, but I am not sure of the exact significance. Chōrō is the highest honour that a priest can receive within Jinja Honchō. Anyway, this… Read More »Right-Wing Priests