Sacred nature : the role of Shinto in Japanese environmentalism

Mesner, Aljaž (author)

This paper explores the role of Shinto in Japanese environmentalism. It first presents perceptions of nature in Japan and the historical role of Shinto, then delves into the conservation of sacred shrine forests – Chinju no mori – within the Shinto environmentalist discourse. The role of Shinto in politics is demonstrated through the activities of the Association of Shinto Shrines – Jinja Honcho. Finally, presenting shrine groves as urban green spaces and community centres shows the potential of Shinto values working together with environmental conservation.

• Language: English
• Keywords: religion, Shinto, politics, nature, environmentalism, Chinju no mori, Japan
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FF - Faculty of Arts
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Publication date: 01.02.2024
• Year: 2024
• Number of pages: 14 str.
• Numbering: Letn. 2, št. 1
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-187202
• UDC: 2:502(52)
• ISSN on article: 2820-6088
• DOI: 10.4312/svetovi.2.1.31-44
• COBISS.SI-ID: 203947523
• Publication date in RUL: 09.09.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Svetovi
• Publisher: Založba Univerze v Ljubljani
• ISSN: 2820-6088
• COBISS.SI-ID: 148550403

Licences

• License: CC BY-SA 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
• Description: This Creative Commons license is very similar to the regular Attribution license, but requires the release of all derivative works under this same license.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Sveta narava : vpliv šintoizma na japonsko ekološko zavest

Abstract

Članek raziskuje vlogo šintoizma v japonskem okoljevarstvu. Najprej predstavi percepcije narave na Japonskem in zgodovinsko vlogo šintoizma, nato pa ohranjanje gozdnih svetišč- Chinju no mori znotraj šintoističnega okoljskega diskurza. Vloga šintoizma v politiki je prikazana prek dejavnosti združenja šintoističnih svetišč - Jinja Honcho. Na koncu so predstavljena svetišča kot urbane zelene površine in skupnostni prostori, kar kaže na potencial povezovanja šintoističnih vrednot z ohranjanjem okolja.

• Keywords: religija, šintoizem, politika, narava, varstvo okolja, Chinju no mori, Japonska