Shows
Books on AsiaThe Wondrous Elixir of the Two Chinese Lovers–Tim McGirkThe Wondrous Elixir of the Two Chinese Lovers – Tim McGirkThe novel tells the story of archaeologist Ned Sheehan's discovery of two ancient Chinese tombs at a Maya site in southern Mexico. One tomb belongs to Xu Fu, a famous Taoist priest who vanished on a quest for the elixir of immortality at the behest of China’s First Emperor. The other houses the emperor’s own mother, scandalously revealed to have been Xu Fu’s lover.Tim and John talk about what is known about Xu Fu, a historical person, and Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s...
2025-11-0332 min
Stuff You Missed in History ClassEmperor Meiji and the Meiji Jingu ShrineEmperor Meiji of Japan’s reign began in 1867, and it marks a time of significant change in the country’s history. After the emperor and his consort died in the early 20th century, the Meiji Jingu shrine was built to memorialize them. Research: Atsushi, Kawai. “Prefectures, Power, and Centralization: Japan’s Abolition of the Feudal Domains.” Nippon.com. Aug. 27, 2021. https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-topics/g01159/ Bernard, Rosemary. “Shinto and Ecology: Practice and Orientations to Nature.” Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology. https://fore.yale.edu/World-Religions/Shinto/Overview-Essay Cali, Joseph and John Dougill. “Shinto Shrines: A Guide to the S...
2025-05-1939 min
Bright On BuddhismAsian Religions Series - Shintō Part 2Bright on Buddhism - Asian Religions Series - Shintō Part 2
Hello and welcome to the Asian religions series. In this series, we will be discussing religious traditions in Asia other than Buddhism. Buddhism never existed in a vacuum, and as it has spread all across East Asia, it has developed, localized, and syncretized with local traditions in fascinating and significant ways. As such, we cannot provide a complete picture of East Asian without discussing those local traditions such as they were and are. Disclaimer: this series is very basic and introductory, and does not and cannot paint a...
2024-07-0525 minBright On BuddhismAsian Religions Series - Shintō Part 1Bright on Buddhism - Asian Religions Series - Shintō Part 1
Hello and welcome to the Asian religions series. In this series, we will be discussing religious traditions in Asia other than Buddhism. Buddhism never existed in a vacuum, and as it has spread all across East Asia, it has developed, localized, and syncretized with local traditions in fascinating and significant ways. As such, we cannot provide a complete picture of East Asian without discussing those local traditions such as they were and are. Disclaimer: this series is very basic and introductory, and does not and cannot paint a...
2024-01-2625 min
Wonders of the WorldKinkaku-ji of Kyoto and the Start of the Ashikaga ShogunateIts gold walls reflected in the pond at its feet, the Temple of the Golden Pavilion, Kinkaku-ji, is glorious in any season. It was originally the retirement villa of Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, former shogun and patron of the arts. How Yoshimitsu was able to be shogun is a story from some decades before, a story of betrayal, revolutions, and lots of samurai warriors committing ritual suicide. Listener Jaime discussing seeing the temple in various seasons, as well as the experience of visiting Kyoto itself. Also, somehow Drew makes it through an entire episode on Kyoto only...
2021-03-1539 min
Books on AsiaJohn Dougill, founder of Writers in KyotoJohn Dougill talks about Japan’s indigenous religion of Shinto, its kami (deities) and the designation of Ise Shrine as the center of worship for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Recorded on May 27, 2018.For more information about Dougill's books as well as publications by other members of Writers in Kyoto, see: https://booksonasia.net/category/issues/issue-1/The Books on Asia Podcast is sponsored by Stone Bridge Press, publisher of fine books on Asia for over 30 years: www.stonebridge.com
The Books on Asia Podcast is co-produced with Plum Rain Press.
2021-01-1928 min
The Arts of TravelGreen Shinto - Japan's Shinto Faith and Climate Change with Dr. John DougillWe chat with John Dougill, founder of the website Green Shinto for a fascinating discussion on Japan's native faith and why in the era of climate change it has resonated with a new generation of followers.
John is a captivating lecturer with a great sense of humor. You won't want to miss this chat! It's a great for anyone who wants to know more about the history, culture and practices of Japan. You can't explain Japan without Shinto or vis-versa.
For more information on what Asia Art Tours offers related to Shinto in Japan, please check out our "Spirits of...
2019-04-1644 min
Notebook on Cities and CultureS3E6: Form Over Function with John DougillColin Marshall sits down seven stories above Kawaramachi, Kyoto, Japan with John Dougill, professor of British culture at Ryukoku University, blogger at Green Shinto, and author of books including Kyoto: A Cultural History, In Search of Japan's Hidden Christians, and Oxford in English Literature. They discuss the commonalities between the Kyoto geisha and the English gentleman, who practice their respective cultures' ritual, regulation, and repression; form's dominance over function in Japan, as exemplified by one young fellow in a Union Jack t-shirt; how he got a handle on Japan by writing a book on Kyoto, and how in the proc...
2013-01-2453 min
JourneyWithJesus.net PodcastJwJ: Sunday August 12, 2012Weekly JourneywithJesus.net postings, read by Daniel B. Clendenin. Essay: *A Deep Moment: The Way of Saint James and the Words of Jesus* for Sunday, 12 August 2012; book review: *In Search of Japan's Hidden Christians; A Story of Suppression, Secrecy and Survival* by John Dougill (2012); film review: *Vision* (2009, Germany); poem review: *O Shepherd of Souls* by Hildegard of Bingen.
2012-08-0517 min