This work investigates the historical development, theological foundations, and socio-political role of Shinto within the context of Japanese national identity. Genchi Katu, a prominent scholar of the early 20th century, utilizes a combination of historical analysis and comparative religious study to map the evolution of Shinto from its primitive roots to its status as a state-sanctioned belief system. The text provides a systematic framework for understanding the rituals, mythology, and institutional structures that define the religion.

Scholars recognize this text as a foundational, albeit dated, primary source for understanding the academic approach to Shinto in the early 20th century. Readers frequently note the dense, formal prose style typical of academic writing from that era.