Abstract
Summary: Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines are distinctive actors in the forest sector in Japan, as they have owned and managed forests since ancient times using management principles rooted in religion. This study analyzed trends from studies on temple and shrine forests, comparing them with common-forest (iriai) studies; explored the publication of “Shajirin-no-genkyo” (Current Status of Shrine and Temple Forests), edited by Norinsho Sanrinkyoku (Forest Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry); and explored ongoing issues in the study of temple and shrine forests. Significant characteristics of studies on these forests include: they are much fewer in number than those on common forests; issues and approaches are diverse, but most studies were conducted from a natural sciences perspective; although many studies defend common forests, few defend shrine and temple forests; and the studies concentrated on famous temples and shrines. It is assumed that “Shajirin-no-genkyo” was published in 1940, since its surveys were conducted in 1939. The impetus for its publication might have been the modifications to the Forest Act implemented in 1939, which brought changes related to shrine and temple forests. We suggest two topics for future research: the public nature of national forests, and the possible use of temple and shrine forests for high-quality timber production, given current timber shortages. Both common forests and temple and shrine forests are regarded as pre-modern subjects, but they are in need of reevaluation from a post-modern perspective.
