ISSA Shinto Essay Competition, 2014
Sponsored by International Shinto Studies Association
Topics:
1) The Main Features of Edo-period Confucian Interpretations of Shinto
2) The Visual Culture of Shinto: Material Forms and Representations of the Kami in History
3) The Significance of Death in Shinto
A previous prize-winner, Dr. Aike Rots, whose essay on shrine forests was featured in an earlier Green Shinto posting
Regulations
The competition is open to university students (undergraduates, graduates) and researchers. Applicants should submit an essay of up to 5000 words (including footnotes and bibliography) on one of the above topics.
Essays will be judged on their originality and the clarity of their argument. Essays should be e-mailed as Word file attachments in 12-point type, double-spaced, on A-4 format to info@shinto.org. All entries must be received before July 31, 2014. Applicants must attach a brief biography (including nationality, current postal and email addresses) on a separate sheet.
Important Advice
1. We strongly recommend that non-native speakers of English have their essays checked by a native speaker.
2. It is vital for all applicants to cite all sources used. Failure to do may constitute plagiarism, and lead to the disqualification of the submitted essay. Sources can be cited as either footnotes or endnotes. For examples of how to cite sources, the applicant can refer to one of the following: a) The footnotes as used in Japanese Journal for Religious Studies (JJRS articles can be accessed online at: http://nirc.nanzan-u.ac.jp/en/publications/jjrs/listofjournals/) b) The end-notes as used in Breen and Teeuwen, A New History of Shinto, Wiley-Blackwell, 2010.
3. We ask that all applicants append to the essay a bibliography of the sources they have used in the writing of the essay.
Prizes
1st prize: A round-trip tickets and a week’s lodging expenses in Japan (or the equivalent amount of prize money). The 1st prize winner will be awarded at the International Shinto Seminar on November 22, 2014 in Japan.
2nd prize: US $1,000
3rd prize: US $500
Notes
1. Those who have already been awarded prizes in previous years’ competitions are not eligible to participate.
2. All entrants will be notified of competition results, and winners will be publicly announced in October 2014. Winners will receive prize money by PayPal account or bank transfer unless arranged otherwise. All submissions become the property of International Shinto Studies Association.
Inquiries
Please address all e-mail inquiries regarding the Shinto essay competition to info@shinto.org.
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