‘But if ethics are conspicuously absent from Shinto, the doctrine of uncleanness holds a prominent position.’
Shinto, the way of the gods, is the oldest religion in Japan and a fundamental part of Japanese identity and culture. It is also very little understood by people outside Japan. Aston’s little book on Shinto serves as a comprehensive introduction to the history of the religion and introduces readers to Shinto’s most important deities, myths, and doctrines.
William George Aston (W. G. Aston) was a British diplomat and a scholar on the language and history of Japan.