Shinto Studies Workbook: Reading Myth, Ritual, and Sacred Space in Japan's Indigenous Tradition

Understanding Shinto intellectually is one task; being able to read its mythological texts analytically, interpret specific ritual practices with precision, and describe sacred space in terms of its symbolic logic is another. This workbook builds those interpretive skills through structured close-reading and comparative exercises. By the end of this course you will be able to read excerpts from the Kojiki with attention to narrative structure and theological implication, analyze specific Shinto rituals using the categories of participants, sequence, space, and symbolic object, apply the concept of purity/pollution to specific cases with analytical precision, compare Shinto sacred space with sacred space in other religious traditions using a structured framework, and write accurate, respectful analytical prose about Shinto practice. What you will learn: - Close reading: an excerpt from the Kojiki creation narrative, identifying the theological structure and what it implies about the nature of kami, the world, and the imperial family - Ritual analysis exercise: the New Year (Shogatsu) observances — mapping participants, sequence, spatial movement, and symbolic action using a structured worksheet - Purity and pollution analysis: applying the kegare/harae framework to three specific cases and identifying what each reveals about Shinto's underlying logic - Sacred space comparison: a structured comparison of a Shinto shrine, a Hindu mandir, and a Japanese Buddhist temple using a shared analytical grid - Matsuri case study: a detailed written description of a regional matsuri, analyzed for its agricultural, community, and cosmological dimensions - How to distinguish State Shinto ideology from earlier shrine practice when reading historical documents - A writing exercise: produce a short analytical account of a single Shinto rite with a worked model and annotated rubric - A synthesis comparison worksheet: how Shinto engages with nature, time, and purity relative to other East Asian religious traditions Each workbook section provides a framing overview, primary or secondary source excerpts, a structured analytical task, a worked example, and a self-assessment prompt. All Japanese terms are provided with Romaji transcription and English gloss. This course is suitable for students of religious studies, Japanese studies, or East Asian cultural history who want analytical tools for engaging with primary Shinto sources and practices. No prior knowledge of Japanese or Shinto is required. Suitable for those new to textual and ritual analysis.