Yijiang Zhong analyses the formation of Shinto as a complex and diverse religious tradition in early modern and Meiji Japan; 1600-1868. Highlighting the role of the god Okuninushi and the mythology centered on the Izumo Shrine in western Japan as part of this process; he shows how and why this god came to be ignored in State Shinto in the modern period. In doing so; Zhong moves away from the traditional understanding of Shinto history as something completely internal to the nation of Japan; and instead situates the formation of Shinto within a larger geopolitical context involving intellectual and political developments in the East Asian region and the role of western colonial expansion. The Origin of Modern Shinto in Japan draws extensively on primary source materials in Japan; many of which were only made available to the public less than a decade ago and have not yet been studied. Source materials analysed include shrine records and object materials; contemporary written texts; official materials from the national and provincial levels; and a broad range of visual sources based on contemporary prints; drawings; photographs and material culture.
#90056 in Books Osprey Publishing 2016-06-21 2016-06-21Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 245.87 x 5.71 x 6.60l; .43 #File Name: 147281445264 pages9781472814456
Review
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful. Excellent text; disappointing illustrations.By A. C. MurphyRene Chartrand; who is a regular contributor to Osprey's Fortress series; delivers another great volume in "Forts of the American Revolution: 1775-83." The volume covers fortifications on the North American continent divided by region: The Northeast; Canada; The South; and The Midwest. Little or no mention is made of fortifications that played a role in the conflict in the Caribbean (such as Fort Montagu; captured by Continental Marines in a raid on Nassau in the Bahamas); Europe; or India. Nor is there little said about western frontier fortifications outside of George Rogers Clark's campaigns against Kaskaskia; Cahokia; and Vincennes even though there were military and settler-built fortifications such as Fort Laurens in the Ohio Country; Fort Henry in Western Virginia (modern Wheeling WV); or Fort Boonesborough in Kentucky. This is understandable given the limited coverage available in the Osprey format. All said; Chartrand delivers a good survey of forts and techniques of fortification in the more major theaters of operations.This book's greatest disappointment are the color plates. Unlike previous Fortress volumes illustrated by Donato Sedaliere (such as "Forts of the War of 1812" or "The Forts of Colonial North America"); this entry in the Osprey Fortress series includes no bird's-eye reconstructions of important forts. Instead there are four illustrations of basic and general fort construction (the construction of an earth and timber wall; a view of a general blockhouse; and two illustrations of stockade construction); two illustrations of siege batteries (a French mortar battery at Yorktown and Spanish howitzers at Pensacola); and two battle scenes (Patriots awaiting the British assault on Breed's Hill; and the storming of Redoubt 10 at Yorktown). This is really the only major fault with this book. Had it included even a few high-quality reconstruction illustrations of some of the major fortifications; it would be a much stronger book. Chartrand's text is excellent; but the disappointing illustrations are the only reason I would give this book three stars instead of five.5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. Digging in...By HMS WarspiteAs author Rene Chartrand notes; the American Revolution was fought mainly in the field between British and American armies. Fortifications and sieges played an important role; however; beginning with the siege of Boston in 1775; and ending with the siege of Yorktown in 1781. In between; the ability of the British and American armies to take advantage of hasty and existing field fortifications played a key role in a number of battles and campaigns."Forts of the American Revolution 1775-83" is an Osprey Fortress Series book. The author steps quickly through the history of the conflict; emphasizing the important role played by forts. The narrative includes the sieges of Charlestown and Savannah; as well as the British campaigns against the Hudson and Delaware Rivers forts build by the American army. Of particular interest is the description of the siege of British Pensacola by Spanish troops in 1781; an often overlooked event that had important ramifications for the future of American fortunes in the Mississippi Valley. This book provides a solid and very readable introduction to its topic; supported by period and modern illustrations. Highly recommended.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Not enough EngineeringBy DoodleGToo much on the History. Based on his "French Forts" book (which was MUCH better); I hoped for more on the actual design building of the forts. I wanted an Engineering perspective; not historical.
