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Rating: 
Summary: Invaluable reference on Shinto
Review: Smyers, an acknowledged expert on the cult of Inari (Japanese Rice God/dess) has provided a thorough and engaging examination of the many facets of Inari worship and symbology. Her analysis, both anecdotal and anthropological, of the role of women in the shamanastic forms of Inari worship brings to light
their importance in Japan's shamanic past and present. She has been given access to many levels of Inari worship, from fire ceremonies held in individual believers' homes (a suspensful and riveting account), to the larger Inari centers throughout Japan, and has provided a detailed, comprehensive and
fascinating account of this little-known, but widespread, form of worship. A must read for anyone interested in Japan, Shinto, Buddhism, shamanism and the metaphysical.
Rating:
Summary: Invaluable reference on Shinto
Review: Smyers, an acknowledged expert on the cult of Inari (Japanese Rice God/dess) has provided a thorough and engaging examination of the many facets of Inari worship and symbology. Her analysis, both anecdotal and anthropological, of the role of women in the shamanastic forms of Inari worship brings to light
their importance in Japan's shamanic past and present. She has been given access to many levels of Inari worship, from fire ceremonies held in individual believers' homes (a suspensful and riveting account), to the larger Inari centers throughout Japan, and has provided a detailed, comprehensive and
fascinating account of this little-known, but widespread, form of worship. A must read for anyone interested in Japan, Shinto, Buddhism, shamanism and the metaphysical.
Rating:
Summary: Great book on Inari
Review: This book covers the Shinto, Buddhist and Shaman aspects of Inari worship in Japan. It is very clearly written and well researched. The book is one of the best I have found on Japanese culture, an area of current interest to me.
Rating:
Summary: Inari and Jung by "Kitsune-Onnna" (Fox Woman)
Review: Well, I have been familiar with Inari, sort of "Fox God", since I was born and raised in Japan. However, after I read this book, I noticed that I had not known what Inari really means! Why do we have so many "Fox God shrines" in Japan? What is the relationship beteen Shinto and Inari? What about Inari and Buddhisim? I have not seen a book like this, even in Japanese, which ambitiously tries to investigate for these complicated, but culturally fascinating issues. The author lived in Japan for a couple of years, at two major Inari Shrines (Fushimi and Toyokawa), and conuducted a thorough field study. In fact, the author could not solve all the intricated miteries of Inari, but, most importantly, she found out that even many priests and monks working at Fushimi or Toyokawa do not know histories of their shrines, nor understand what Inari really means! In that sense, Inari is not purely religion, but sort of a popular culture and practice. So, we may say this is a great book of anthropology of Japanese culture. I met Karen, the author, at the Jung Institute in Zurich. Karen introduced herself, in Japanese, as "Kitsune-Onna", Fox-woman. She was so brave that she quit a tenure position in an American college, and decided to become an Jungian analyst. Karen, I look forward to seeing you again, and to see what comes out from the combination of your American nativeness, deep insight of Japanese culture, and Jungian psychology.
Rating:
Summary: Inari and Jung by "Kitsune-Onnna" (Fox Woman)
Review: Well, I have been familiar with Inari, sort of "Fox God", since I was born and raised in Japan. However, after I read this book, I noticed that I had not known what Inari really means! Why do we have so many "Fox God shrines" in Japan? What is the relationship beteen Shinto and Inari? What about Inari and Buddhisim? I have not seen a book like this, even in Japanese, which ambitiously tries to investigate for these complicated, but culturally fascinating issues. The author lived in Japan for a couple of years, at two major Inari Shrines (Fushimi and Toyokawa), and conuducted a thorough field study. In fact, the author could not solve all the intricated miteries of Inari, but, most importantly, she found out that even many priests and monks working at Fushimi or Toyokawa do not know histories of their shrines, nor understand what Inari really means! In that sense, Inari is not purely religion, but sort of a popular culture and practice. So, we may say this is a great book of anthropology of Japanese culture. I met Karen, the author, at the Jung Institute in Zurich. Karen introduced herself, in Japanese, as "Kitsune-Onna", Fox-woman. She was so brave that she quit a tenure position in an American college, and decided to become an Jungian analyst. Karen, I look forward to seeing you again, and to see what comes out from the combination of your American nativeness, deep insight of Japanese culture, and Jungian psychology.
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