Sources

Shinto: A History

Citation Formats

General Reference

Divinity Atlas. "Shinto: A History." Accessed August 30, 2026. https://www.divinityatlas.com/sources/shinto-a-history.

APA Style

Divinity Atlas. (n.d.). Shinto: A History. Retrieved August 30, 2026, from https://www.divinityatlas.com/sources/shinto-a-history

BibTeX

@misc{divinityatlas-shinto-a-history,
  author = {Divinity Atlas},
  title = {Shinto: A History},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://www.divinityatlas.com/sources/shinto-a-history},
  note = {Accessed August 30, 2026}
}

Helen Hardacre's history covers Shinto's relationship to the Japanese state directly, including the well documented period in which the state promoted a version of Shinto, sometimes called State Shinto, as part of nationalist and imperial ideology before 1945, a history that is itself a matter of settled historical record rather than a live dispute. That the book confronts this politically loaded history rather than presenting Shinto only as timeless practice is a real indication of its seriousness, distinct from any claim about its publisher. As a 2017 study it also reflects a more recent state of the field than older Shinto references still in circulation. It documents what is known of Shinto's historical development. It is a history rather than a normative statement of Shinto belief, so a claim about what Shinto practitioners themselves currently hold as doctrine is better drawn from a source speaking in the tradition's own voice.

Facts

Assessment

Reliability Tier

A major recent scholarly history of Shinto from a university press, documenting the tradition's development rather than asserting a normative statement of its belief.

Notes

Major recent scholarly history of Shinto from its ancient origins through its modern institutional and political history in Japan, including its relationship to the Japanese state. Use for established historical facts about Shinto; it documents what is known of the tradition's development, not a normative statement of Shinto belief.

Citation

Author

Helen Hardacre

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Publication Year

2017

URL

https://global.oup.com/academic/product/shinto-9780190621711

Source Type

academic monograph

Claims Backed By This Source (1,011 claims)

This source backs 1,011 claims across the atlas. As facts: 771 well-attested, 6 scholarly debate. As cited relationships: 81 holds, 7 connected, 1 held Differently. Plus 145 entities citing it as a general reference with no single fact or relationship attached.

Disposition By Topic

Deities, 259 claims: 217 well-attested, 2 scholarly debate, 15 holds, 25 general references.
Articles, 158 claims: 144 well-attested, 1 holds, 5 connected, 8 general references.
Rituals, 78 claims: 62 well-attested, 3 holds, 13 general references.
Practices, 58 claims: 49 well-attested, 2 holds, 7 general references.
Sacred Sites, 54 claims: 38 well-attested, 9 holds, 7 general references.
Sacred Objects & Ritual Items, 41 claims: 26 well-attested, 3 holds, 12 general references.
Denominations, 35 claims: 28 well-attested, 3 holds, 1 connected, 1 held Differently, 2 general references.
Figures, 27 claims: 15 well-attested, 2 holds, 10 general references.
Religious Organization & Structure, 27 claims: 14 well-attested, 7 holds, 6 general references.
Holidays & Festivals, 26 claims: 20 well-attested, 3 holds, 3 general references.
Religious Roles & Titles, 24 claims: 16 well-attested, 3 holds, 5 general references.
Beliefs & Restrictions, 23 claims: 18 well-attested, 1 holds, 4 general references.
Doctrines, 19 claims: 5 well-attested, 2 scholarly debate, 7 holds, 5 general references.
Prayers, 14 claims: 11 well-attested, 3 general references.
Subcategories, 13 claims: 10 well-attested, 3 general references.
Hymns & Liturgical Texts, 12 claims: 10 well-attested, 2 general references.
Mantras, 12 claims: 9 well-attested, 2 holds, 1 general references.
Religious Events, 12 claims: 3 well-attested, 1 scholarly debate, 6 holds, 2 general references.
Religions, 11 claims: 9 well-attested, 1 holds, 1 general references.
Scriptures & Texts, 10 claims: 6 well-attested, 1 holds, 3 general references.
Observance Rules, 9 claims: 5 well-attested, 2 holds, 1 connected, 1 general references.
Pilgrimage Routes, 9 claims: 7 well-attested, 1 holds, 1 general references.
Calendars, 8 claims: 4 well-attested, 3 holds, 1 general references.
Myths & Sacred Narratives, 8 claims: 6 well-attested, 2 general references.
Religious Symbols, 8 claims: 6 well-attested, 1 holds, 1 general references.
Scripture Portions, 8 claims: 5 well-attested, 3 general references.
Sources, 8 claims: 8 well-attested.
Historical Figures, 7 claims: 4 well-attested, 1 holds, 2 general references.
Sacred Foods, 7 claims: 3 well-attested, 2 holds, 2 general references.
Organizations, 5 claims: 3 well-attested, 1 holds, 1 general references.
Religious Offices, 5 claims: 4 well-attested, 1 general references.
Bodies of Water, 3 claims: 2 well-attested, 1 general references.
Cultures, 3 claims: 2 well-attested, 1 general references.
Religious Dress & Vestments, 3 claims: 1 well-attested, 1 holds, 1 general references.
Languages, 2 claims: 1 well-attested, 1 general references.
Realms, 2 claims: 1 scholarly debate, 1 general references.
Cities, 1 claims: 1 general references.
Disciplines, 1 claims: 1 general references.
Spread Events, 1 claims: 1 general references.