David Chart

Recently, I have read a number of articles in different places (not all Jinja Shinpō!) that made me think about the role of lineage in Shinto. OK, so some of the articles were in Jinja Shinpō. Every year, they publish a number of short pieces by people associated with Shinto in some capacity who have the same zodiacal animal as the current year, the tiger this year. As there are twelve years in the cycle, that means people who are going to be 36, 48, 60, 72, 84, or 96.… Read More »Lineage

About a month ago, a new textbook for the Jinja Kentei was published. This is a manga version of the basic textbook (affiliate link!), and is the textbook for this year’s introductory level exam. I would like to start by saying that it is good, and it should be no problem for people who have passed JLPT N1 to read this; the unusual kanji all have their readings given, and the point of the text is to explain what they mean. If you are JLPT N2 level, I think you… Read More »Jinja Kentei Manga Textbook

The expert committee established by the Prime Minister to look into the question of how to secure the Imperial Succession has made its final report. It is a masterpiece of compromise and fudge, and I do mean that as a compliment. There is a chance of getting this past everyone who cares about the topic. (This process has been reported in Jinja Shinpō multiple times, and the final report of the committee was discussed in an article in the December 13th 2021 edition.) First, they have made it clear that… Read More »Report on the Imperial Succession

I have just made two more of the past Patreon essays available for purchase on Amazon: Suinin Tennō and Yamato Takeru. (That’s an affiliate link, just in case you thought I had no financial interest in the sales of my book. I do get royalties as well.) During the reign of Suinin Tennō, the son and heir of Sujin Tennō, there are myths concerning the foundation of Jingū at Isë, the use of divination to find the cause of and cure for an Imperial prince’s situation, and a prince from… Read More »New Book: Suinin Tennō and Yamato Takeru

The December 20th/27th 2021 issue of Jinja Shinpō included an article about a meeting of the board of directors of Jinja Honchō at which, among other things, the progress of the court case was discussed. There hasn’t been any real progress (the appeal is still pending at the Supreme Court), but there were a couple of interesting points raised. First, Jinja Honchō paid the back salaries of the two former employees who sued them, to avoid Jinja Honchō’s assets being seized. However, the former employees returned the money, saying that… Read More »Discussion of the Court Case

Another article in the series about sacred forests was in the December 13th issue of Jinja Shinpō. It was written by a priest of Hiraoka Jinja in Osaka Prefecture, the original jinja enshrining Amënokoyanë, the ancestral kami of the Nakatomi and Fujiwara. In 2001, when he had been at the jinja for nine years, its umë grove was selected as one of the “100 Best Smelling Places in Japan” by the Environment Ministry. He doesn’t recall having much reaction beyond thinking “yes, it does smell nice”, but the selection got… Read More »Forestry with Parishioners