The Shinto Religion

The Shinto Religion
Japanese mythology and folklore make up an extremely large portion of the Shinto religion, of
which approximately 2,700,001 people follow worldwide (Pew Research Center). What has kept
people fastened to this religion as opposed to the larger faiths such as: Christianity, Buddhism, and
Hindus? The majority of people who are researching different religions do not look at less common
religions such as this one. Shinto is a series of Japanese myths and folktales that are still passed
from parent to child, many of which are quite interesting. Japanese myths and folklore were passed
around orally until 712 AD. When the Kojiki, Records of Ancient Matters, was written; now anyone
can access several of those such as the Creation Story and the Stone–cutter. ... Show more content
on Helpwriting.net ...
This is a tale about a lowly stonecutter named Tasaku, who each day, chiseled at the stone
mountains. He hewed the stone that made up the great palaces and temples. He never asked for
anything except to work every day which pleased the spirit who lived in the mountains.one day, the
price went by with this gigantic parade of soldiers, musicians, and dancers. He wore robes of
beautiful silk and his servants carried him aloft. Tasaku watched the parade until he could no longer
see it. Tasaku didn't cut anymore stone that day,, he returned to the hut, wishing he were the prince.
He truly envied the prince, he looked up and wish, out loud, that he could be rich like the prince.
The spirit who lived in the mountains heard his wish. So that night, after the stonecutter was asleep,
the spirit transformed him into a prince. Tasaku was rapturous. He lived in a palace, had fancy
clothes with the finest silk. He had servants who bowed to him and musicians who played whatever
he wanted. He was in command of all the great armies and ruled over the land. In the afternoons he
would walk in his garden, he loved his flowers but the sun made all the plants shrivel up. He knelt
over and looked at the withered plants and saw the great power of the sun. He wanted to have as
much power as the sun so he asked the spirit to change him into the sun, and the spirit heard his
wish. The spirit
... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...

The Effects Of Shinto Religion On Japan
In an article written by Christian Centuries in 2016. In this article, the writer goes over the love the
prime minister has for the Ise Grand Shrine, which is the most sacred place in Japan. The writer also
starts off the article stating that the prime minister's commitment to the Shinto religion, it led him to
become more of a Liberal–Democrat and his teachings and ruling went off of the Democrat ways to
purse the wide–range of Shinto religion policies.
The article goes on to explain the effects that the Shinto religion has had on Japan. The religion was
not thought of as much as it was back in the prewar days. The religion prays to the God "Kami",
which means spirits in both living and inanimate objects. Along came the 19th century and Japan

Shinto Ethics Essay
It is believed that humans have a distinctive moral sense, and can be motivated by shame to avoid
behaving wrong. Acts of wrong–doing are cleansed through acts of purification. Sincerity, which is
the harmony of thought and action, is a prized human characteristic. The Shinto vision for society
has varied in different eras; however the core is the idea of harmony – harmony between humans
and kami, harmony within social groupings, and harmony between humans and nature.
Ethics in Shinto are cultural and situational; there are no Shinto commandments or precepts
forbidding certain actions. Male homosexuality has sometimes been socially acceptable, and at other
times it has been frowned upon. Infidelity by men has often been overlooked, but women are almost
always expected to be faithful. Until the last century, men were allowed to divorce their wives, but
the reverse was not the case. This may ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The appreciation and respect of Kami have influenced Japanese social values regarding cleanliness,
helpfulness and care for the natural environment. Shinto imprints the idea of optimism throughout
their beliefs. The embrace of positive thinking provides peacefulness and closure.
SEARCH FOR MEANING
Shinto is not a religion is the western sense, but rather an integral aspect of Japanese life. Shinto
identifies the good in people and holds no concept of intended sin, with emphasis being place on
right practice, sensibility an attitude. The rituals enable people to communicate with kami purify
themselves. There is no trace of transcendence as the world is seen as one single unified creation,
with no founder, no god and no sense of exclusivity.
The human search for meaning within Shintoism is reflected through beliefs, rituals, origins and
culture. The true meaning of Shintoism is shown through simplicity, 'one with the world', peace and
individual journey to self–discovery and

Compare And Contrast Shinto And Hinduism
Hinduism and Shinto
The two religion I choose to talk about are from India and Japan. These two religions have no
founder, they were transpired from within the native land and religions that surround them.
Hinduism and Shinto were built from other religious sections coming together and from challenges
that leaders had placed on their people trying to define their culture.
Hinduism faced the challenges of Jainism and Buddhism which originated from India. Hinduism
absorbed these two religions and adopted their identities into Hindu thinking. The Sanskrit name for
the river Indus is Sindhu this is how Hindu originated. Muslim conquerors first used it to describe
religion, made also for Indians who did not convert to Islam they were given the ... Show more
content on Helpwriting.net ...
Archaeologists have found places of worship from the culture of the Indus River Valley. This means
even though barbarians these Hindus were civilized Nomads who followed their religion wherever it
went with permanent home. Beginning since the fourth century to the eleventh century.
Shinto is the worship of nature, land and the ancestry of Japan. This worship takes place in shrines,
private families have small shrines for home rituals. The word Shinto was stamped in the sixth
century to distinguish the Japanese religion from newer religions like Buddhism, Daoism and
Confucianism which means" the way of the gods". First is Kami which means "god" there are many
gods, the personified beings of mythology in Japan. Kami have the power to help and protect those
who call on them and worship them. The major source of Japans mythology is the Kojiki meaning
the "chronicle of ancient events" they were collected to respond to Chinese culture and religion that
first entered Japan. Japan accepted Chinese culture but looked to define their own heritage. The
"Age of the Gods" is a section in the Kojiki describing the Japanese Islands by two Kami Izanagi
and Izanami, they were the

Differences Of Shinto And Buddhism In Japan
Japan has many religions but Shinto and Buddhism are Japan's two major religions. Shinto is the
oldest religion in Japan and Buddhism was imported from the mainland in the 6th century. Since
then, the two religions have been co–existing relatively and harmoniously. It is common for one
person or family to believe in several Shinto gods and at the same time belongs to Buddhism. Most
Japanese consider themselves as a Buddhist, Shintoist or both. Today, religion does not play as vital
role in the everyday life of most Japanese people. Children in Japan usually does not receive any
formal religious training.
Shinto is a polytheistic religion because it has many gods. Shinto or the English word, ''the way of
gods' does not have any founder nor does it have sacred scriptures like the ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Mostly western and traditional way. Traditionally, the religious wedding ceremony will be held in
Shinto style at a shrine and the couple is dressed in traditional kimono. A Shinto priest conducts the
ceremony, which is only visited by the close family members of the couple. During the ceremony,
the couple is purified, drinks sake (alcohol), and the groom reads the word of commitment. At the
end of the ceremony, symbolic offerings are given to the kami. Recently, the number of Japanese
couples who hold their wedding ceremony outside of Japan has also increase. The reason is, because
they want to combine the honeymoon with the ceremony to minimize the amount of cost for the

Shinto Research Paper
Rationale for choosing Shinto
The "Shinto", is very interesting to me because it is one of Japans oldest religions. I find it
interesting how Shinto religion is still around and practiced by many in Japan. Also, very it is very
intriguing how Shinto have no single founder and has not gone extinct. Overall, Shinto religion has
taught me that no matter how old the religion is it can live on as long as someone believes.
Category of Shinto
The Shinto origin is Japanese culture. The Shinto has no single founder. The ethics is non explicit
and the Shinto is maybe 1500 years old an ancient religion. Shinto means the way of the gods. Per
my reading the Shinto was started during Buddhism but has not define date. Fisher, 2014, p. 222...
The Shinto ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Therefore, salvation is the deliverance from the troubles and evils of the world the live in.
Purification, plays a major role in the Shinto religion. In order to be one with the kami you must be
purified. Per my reading the Shinto practice the act of purification by waterfall which allows them to
spiritual purify. . Fisher, 2014, p. 233...
The Shinto have ceremonies called Jichinsai. They also have prayer rituals called Norito, deities and
shrines. The conventional order for the Shinto festival rituals starts off with purification, adoration,
opening, presentation, prayers, music, offerings, removal of offerings, closing the sanctuary, final
adoration, the serum is optional, and ceremonial meal which are often reduced to ceremonial sake
drinking. Fisher, 2014, p. 230 – 231.
As for the afterlife the Shinto believe that the human spirit is to remain forever as like the spirit of
Kami, and the spirit live in another world. The other worlds are not seen as a utopia or hell. They
believe that the spirits of the dead can visit and connect with the present world and time by festival
and ritual. Overall, they are not focused on life after death. Shinto focuses on life in this

Shinto And Daoism Similarities
East Asian culture brought to us three distinct and enlightening religions, Daoism, Confucianism,
and Shinto. These religions are all very different and unique they have very unique ties that bind.
Daoism and Confucianism were both brought into fruition during the Shang dynasty around 1600 to
1046 BCE in China (1) while Shinto is an ancient religion to which we do not have a defined date of
conception. The most forward similarities Daoism, Confucianism, and Shinto share are State Cult,
and ancestor worship (although Shinto practices ancestor veneration (2)). Now let's take a more in–
depth look at these unique and wonderful East Asian religions!
First Daoism! Daoism is a Chinese based religion that was formed during the Shang dynasty
somewhere in the years of 1600–1046 BCE. "Daoism is the way of nature and morality" (3).
Daoism has an outward appearance of harmony with nature, peace and being carefree but this
simple life religion is deeply rooted in "a tradition of great mental and physical disciple." (3)
Daoism is mystically religious and it has been said that " we cannot describe the Dao, we can live in
harmony with it...Humans model themselves on earth, Earth on heaven, Heaven on the way, And the
way on that which is naturally so." (4) One of the unique features of Daoism is the paradox of wu
wei or actionless action, "spontaneous, creative activity proceeding from Dao, action without ego–
assertion, letting the Dao take its course,"(5) wu wei effectively encompasses a life

Essay on Shinto Faith
Shintoism is an ancient religion that originated in Japanese culture. Shinto is a general term for the
activities of the people of Japanese descent to worship all the deities of heaven and earth, and at the
end of the 6th century the Japanese were conscious of these activities and called them the "Way of
Kami" (the deity or the deities)'. The practice of Shintoism finally recognized when Yomei, the 31st
Emperor of Japan, prayed before an image of Buddha for the first time as an emperor for recovery
of his illness. Then Yomei accepted Buddhism, a foreign religion, the Japanese realized existence of
a tradition of their own faith.
The Shinto faith is based on Japanese mythology. One of the most important mythological stories in
the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The form of the Shinto rituals is considered to be established at this time including Haraekotoba. In
this Haraekotoba, which was chanted for a purification ceremony at that time and is still chanted, the
sins are listed and they are categorized into two: Amatsu–Tsumi and Kunitsu–Tsumi. At this time,
Ritsu (or the criminal law) were established under the influence of the Chinese Law of the Tang
Age. It is convenient to see these laws in order to look at the Shinto concept of the sin and those
sins, which were prohibited by the secular laws. The gravest sin called Amatsu–Tusmi described in
the Oharae is those deeds, which were committed by Susanowo–no Mikoto, the brother deity of
Amaterasu Ohmikami, the supreme Kami. According to the myth, he was so rejoiced by being able
to prove that he had no ill feeling against his sister deity, Amaterasu Ohmikami, that he committed
vulgarity such as destroying the paddy fields of Amaterasu Ohmikami to have crop for Niinamesai
(Rice–crop rite), the weaving shop where the cloths for the deities were woven and also several
other violent mischievous deeds. It means that all these deeds were against divine festivals. It is
described in the myth that because of these vulgarities, a part of Susanowo's assets was taken away
from him and purged from Heaven. According to the Ritsu, these deeds correspond to the sixth sin,

For week 7 I decided that I would do my assignment on Shinto, since taking this class and reading
about Shinto it started to interest me, especially now that I can look back and think about what I saw
when I was in Japan and wondered what the religion was that they were practicing. Shinto's
meaning is "way of the gods", this is one of the oldest religions in Japan, which began during the
period of the Yayoi culture (c. 300 BCE – 300 CE). The faith has neither a founder or prophets and
there is no major text which outlines its principal beliefs. Shinto's key concepts of purity, harmony,
family respect, and subordination of the individual before the group have become parts of the
Japanese character whether the individual claims a religious affiliation ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Together they created a new race of gods who ruled the earth. Over time Amaterasu became
concerned at the power/control that the gods wielded. Amaterasu then went to her grandson
Honinigi, these were the jewels and mirror the gods used to persuade Amaterasu out of her cave and
the sword that was given to her by Susanoo, known later as Kusanagi. These three objects would
become part of the imperial regalia of Japan. Another symbol carried by Honinigi was the
magnificent magatama jewel which had special fertility powers. The most powerful god was
Okuninushi, Honinigi landed on Mt. Takachio in Kyushu and made a deal with Okuninushi. For his
loyalty to Amaterasu, Okuninushi would have the important role of protector of the future royal
family. Later, the god would be regarded as the protector of all Japan.
Other important divine figures include The 'Seven Lucky Gods' or Shichifukujin specifically
Daikokuten (considered the god of the kitchen) and Ebisu who represent wealth, Inari the rice god,
Amida (ruler of the Pure Land, i.e. heaven), Kannon (protector of children, women in childbirth, and
dead souls) and Jizo (protector of those in pain and the souls of dead

How Did Shinto Influence Japanese Culture
Shinto, an ethnic, ritualistic religion of Japan, has proved somewhat adaptable to social change and
significantly more adaptable to political change within the nation since its initial emergence, with
origins which trace back to 300BC . While experts argue that Shinto has been extremely influential
in shaping Japanese culture and identity, its popularity has been diminishing since the religion was
imposed by the State in Japan's pre–World War II, evoking a surge of nationalism. In today's society,
the religion has made conscious efforts to regain popularity, however has not been able to wholly
adapt to Japan's modern social context, despite it being syncretic in nature (and popularly combined
with Japanese Buddhist or Confucian practices). ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Emperor Meiji, legend tells, wrote in Japan's 1889 Constitution that Emperor Jimmu Tenno (660BC)
was a direct descendant of Amaterasu. The position of emperor before this however, was principally
ceremonial, and the emperor typically lived in imprisonment until the Meiji restoration period
(1868–1912). Instead, Japan was predominantly led by feudal noblemen, rather than the figure head.
By World War II, however, the Emperor was widely believed to be divine, and worshipped as a god,
partially as a result of Japanese 'radical–right ultra–nationalism' . This was an ideology which
propagated, and spread to mainstream Japan by the 1930's, after being introduced during the Meiji
period, through mass military conscription, industrialization, and subtle propaganda promoting
Japan as a 'family–state', done so in an effort to '...to solidify the emperor system against the
increasing power of Western liberal thought.' Emperor Hirohito, Japan's 124th emperor, was the face
of this movement. After aligning themselves to Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy as a result of the
1940 Tripartite Act, Japan attacked the United States in 1941 in Pearl Harbour. Once the war began,
the patriotic Japanese public were lied to about great victories which had not happened in an attempt
to maintain morale and support. Following U.S occupation in 1945, Emperor Hirohito was forced to
renounce his divinity to the nation in 1946. This was followed by a reform of the Japanese
Constitution, which came into effect in May 1947. New nation–wide liberties were introduced, such
as a freedom of religion were introduced, meaning Shinto could no longer be imposed as a State
religion. Mainstream Shinto teachings have since evolved, and the religion now states that the
emperor is primarily and foremost a figure of national

Ritual Purification In Shinto Religion
Ritual purification is a part of various religions and is the most basic practice of life in the Shinto
religion for those who are followers. the main focus for the practice of purification is to get rid of
the impurities within the body and soul of the individual regarding anything that the person does for
each day , and specifically before they practice daily devotions. The negativity that one is attempting
to dispose of is not the same as physical impurity, for example, either garbage or dirt. Harae or Harai
is one of four vital components included in Shinto religion. The main focus of the ritual is to get rid
of pollution, sins the person has committed, and any uncleanliness. The idea of Harae incorporates
bad luck, guilt, as well as disease. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
In Shinto they focus on 4 main ideals which include cleanliness, brightness, balance, what is right.
Thought the practice of these ideals that Shintos make part of their everyday life it is reflected
through all four ideals. Every so often things can become unstable in a individuals physical
environment, spirit, and mind so they must restore their balance these everyday rituals of
purification and cleanliness. The most important ritual is misogi which is quite similar to Harae
which of course is consisting of purification through water and can take place where water is
present. Just like Harae a priest will wave a stick with streamers but he waves the stick over a shrine
and then waves over the individual who are apart of the ceremony. The priest gets rid of all bad and
negative impurities affecting the individual to give them a property and balance. In this tradition the
cleansing of impurities is like a basic necessity of life for the Shinto. The individuals who are
partaking in the ceremony wash their hands and face before coming in contact with the shrine. The
priest who is holding the ceremony cleansing the path that leads to the shrine so no impurities reach
the altar when they reach it. Then the worshipers must make an offering of fresh fruit to present to
the

The Religions Of Shinto And Buddhism
The two religions that are located in Japan are Shinto and Buddhism. The two religions in japan are
extraordinarily unalike, while Shintoism believes that every living thing including rocks and sounds
contain some type of god in them, and Buddhism is concerned with the soul and afterlife that
happens in Buddhism. The religions differ very much from each other with little similarities.
Buddhism and Shintoism differ in one using shrines while the other has temples, the two both have
religious ceremonies, and one believes in the afterlife while the other does not. Shinto was
originated in Japan and formed in five hundred BCE. Shinto "the way of the Kami" is the religion of
Japan that was first used in the 6th century. Shinto has no founder, no sacred texts and no formalized
system. Shinto is uniquely Japanese, and believes in a god named Kami, the Shinto believe that
Kami exists both as spiritual beings but as well as in nature. The Kami is not like Western Religions,
because the Kami is not perceived as an all–powerful god, but as a creative force. Buddhism was
formed in the 5th century B.C.E. in northern India. The religion was started by a man named
Siddhartha Gautama, who is also referred to as the Buddha or the enlightened one. The way this man
started the religion was by training his meditation for six years, and then once he felt he was close to
"full enlightenment" he went into meditation and vowed not to come out until he reached full
enlightenment. Buddha then

Shinto And Buddhism Similarities
Among East Asian religions Shinto and Buddhism tend to revolve around the same sphere of life.
This concept is mostly due to Japan borrowing many religious beliefs and practices from China
which led to a synthesis between Shinto and Buddhism. However, when it comes to Shinto shrines
and Buddhist temples there are remarkable differences and similarities between their ways of
worship and appearance. When it comes to Shinto there is no historical founder, no official
scriptures, and no organized teachings. However, Buddhism was founded by Siddhartha Gautama
while scriptures include the Pali Canon and the Mahayana sutras. Also, Buddhists take refuge in the
principles of the Buddha (the teacher), Dharma (the teachings), and the Sangha ( the monastic ...
Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Moreover, the appearance of temples tend to be different as there is typically a torii outside of a
Shinto shrine and Buddhist temples typically have a pagoda. Also, the placement of the religious
sites geographically is distinct as Shinto shrines are unique to China while Buddhist temples are
seen in China, India, Japan, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia while it can also be in other places as
Buddhism is a widespread religion. Furthermore, when it comes to worship those in a Shinto shrine
tend to clap before a worship and in Buddhist temples there is usually silence as there is an
incorporation of meditation in their

Shinto And Buddhism Similarities
Investigation: The Japanese religions of Shinto and Buddhism are two very unique religions that,
despite having different origins, ended up becoming an amalgam of rite, practice, and belief. Shinto,
one of the major religions of Japan, has existed since prehistoric times. "Shintoism", explains Meg
Greene, author, "[does not] have a founder, nor does it have sacred scriptures like the Sutras ...the
religious texts of the Hindus." Indeed, the history of Shinto was so vague that it did not even have a
true name until the word 'Shinto' was borrowed from the Chinese. Buddhism, on the other hand, (the
religion founded by the Buddha) first came to Japan in approximately 530 CE. Though the
differences in the early histories of Shinto and Buddhism ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net
...
Both use religious buildings that are built in auspicious places (often mountains, as they were
considered sacred by both Buddhism and Shinto ). However, beyond this superficial similarity there
are quite a few differences. In Shinto, places of worship are called shrines, believed to be homes to
spirits of the land, or kami, and can vary from being nothing more than a rope hung with lightning–
shaped papers (shimenawa) marking the abode of the kami, to a large complex serving the same
function. Large shrines were (and still are) marked by Torii gates, which, according to esteemed
historian of Japanese religion Masaharu Anesaki, are "simple structure [s], either in wood or in
stone, made up of two... beams laid horizontally... supported by two... columns." The usual form of a
Shinto shrine consisted of the Torii gate; a purification trough to wash the hands and feet before
entering the shrine; a honden, or prayer hall; a Haiden, or the offering hall; and occasionally some
smaller shrines and offices for the priests. The Buddhist temples were similar in that in their grounds
they also had worship halls (with images of the Buddha or other deities), large gateways, and
quarters for those who worked there (in this case, monks). They also had, in contrast to some Shinto
shrines, libraries for sacred texts, storehouses, a bell tower, and often a pagoda. They were also
usually bigger than many Shinto

Japanese Scholars View of the Shinto Religion
The Shinto religion is seen in two different lights by Japanese scholars. One is the view that the role
of Shinto in Japanese history as a periphery religion and reliant on Buddhist ideals for its success.
The other is that Shinto may seem to be a very primitive religion, but it has also maintained a long
history of rituals and institutions that represent Japanese culture and its ability to absorb other
religions and cultures. Both arguments are relatively strong, however I argue that Modernization
mixed with consolidation of the Shinto belief system during the Meiji Reformation played a major
role in separating Shinto from other religions, primarily Buddhism. While it may have been
dependent on Buddhism in the past, during the Meiji Restoration Shinto was clearly separated out
from any other religions and put on a pedestal. I will first describe how Shinto was largely believed
to be an extension of Buddhism before the Meiji period, and then I will outline the many possible
causes as to how Shinto began to solidify during the Meiji Reformation. The clearest description of
the relationship between Buddhism and Shinto, pre–Meiji period, can be seen in the honji suijaku
theory that was popular during the Edo period. According to this theory, Kami, the animistic spirits
in the Shinto religion, acted as protectors of Buddhist divinities. This already places the Shinto
spirits at a lesser position to that of the figures in the Buddhist faith, and was popularly practiced at

Shinto: A Japanese Religion
Shinto refers to a Japanese religion that dates from the early 8th century and incorporates the
worship of natural spirits and ancestors and a belief in sacred power called kami. Shanti was the
state religion of Japan until 1945 but the religion still has many practices that exist up to date.
Ujigami belief is currently the most popular form of Shintō practices in Japan., After the 13th
century ujigami was used in the sense of the tutelary kami of a local community, and all the
members in the community were that kami's adherents. Today, ujiko group consists of the majority
of the residents in a given community. Traditional religious music and dance that were performed
for the purpose of entertaining and appeasing kami, are still in existence.

Red Data Girl: Spiritual Themes Of Japanese Shinto Religion
Anime explores spiritual themes of Japanese Shinto religion
Red Data Girl: Anime woven with the religious myths of Japanese Shinto
Red Data Girl is a Japanese animated series that tells the story of Izumiko Suzuhara, a young girl
who has been raised at the Tamakura Shinto shrine. Growing up in near–seclusion, Izumiko is a shy
and timid girl. She is a miko, or Shinto shrine maiden, and the Tamakura shrine is based on the real–
life Tamaki mountain shrine. Alienating her from the others even further is that whenever she comes
into contact with electronic devices such as phones or computers, the equipment malfunctions or is
destroyed, making her unable to use these forms of communication. However, this problem is
merely a side–effect of her apparent latent spiritual powers which are revealed later in the story. ...
Spiritual themes are heavily woven into the story, highlighting various Shinto beliefs and practices.
It is revealed that Izumiko is a yorishiro, or someone who possesses the power to channel a
himegami, a female goddess. In Japanese mythology, these gods and goddesses are called kami, but
lesser spirits and other phenomena found throughout nature also share this title. A himegami is a
particularly powerful kami, and Izumiko's ability to serve as a vessel for the goddess leads the other
characters to call her the titular "Red Data Girl," roughly the human equivalent of a rare World
Heritage

Similarities Between Shinto And Shinto Religion
Of the many religions in the world, none are quite as unique as Shintoism. Shinto, meaning "the way
of the kami", is the indigenous religion of Japan. It is believed to have existed since the 6th century
B.C.E. However, there is no documented origin nor is there an established founder. At the center of
the Shinto religion is devotion toward various kami and the rituals performed to please them. It does
not attempt to explain existence or the afterlife. Instead, Shintoism focuses on interactions with kami
and life presently. Unlike most Western religions, there is no all–powerful god/gods in Shintoism.
All beings (kami or human) are complementary and harmonious with one another. This emphasis on
harmony is found throughout Shinto culture, ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
In order to purify himself, he washes off in a body of water which creates more kami in the process.
From his left eye the Sun Goddess, Amaterasu, is born. From his right eye the moon deity,
Tsukuyomi, is born. And from his nose the storm deity, Susanoo, is born. After years of fighting
amongst the people of Japan, Amaterasu sent he grandson, Ninigi, to unite the Japanese people. He
became the first emperor of Japan, which established the divinity the role of emperor had.
PRACTICES
Apart from subservience to the emperor, there are no set theological beliefs or moral standards in
Shinto. Humans are thought to be naturally good with all worldly evil being attributed to bad kami.
Worship and respect shown towards kami will bring purity and goodness to individuals. Shinto
'worship' is mainly conducted through ritualistic means. Some of these rituals are performed to gain
the favor of specific kami. However, most rituals are performed for spiritual purification to ward off
evil kami. Shrines are the primary location where rituals take place. Shrines are built to house one or
more kami. It is here that Shintoists may pay respects to specific kami. These shrines can be found
throughout the country and even in most Japanese homes. Dissimilarly to other religions, there is no
set time to visit shrines. People set out on their own schedule or when festivals occur. These
ventures, whether personal or

Shinto
Shinto: A Japanese Religion
Uncovering the religious significance and practices of Japanese Shinto
As an ancient religion of Japan, Shinto was originally a combination of nature worship, divination
techniques, and shamanism. Meaning "the way of the Gods", the origins of Shinto are not apparent
in comparison to other religions, especially other Asian religions and beliefs. With no obvious
founder, as well as original written scriptures and authentic laws, a number of theories exist about
the origination of Shinto as a religion and its development across the Japanese lands. However, the
significance of the religion has shifted the importance of discovering its origins to the religious
influences that Shinto has embarked upon Japanese ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
For the Shinto's, the "divine, natural, and human elements" are closely related to one another. The
Gods and the spirits co–exist with one another; the Gods exist with humans and nature, while the
humans exist with the Gods and nature. Nature, human beings, and deities act "harmoniously" with
one another. Nature, in turn, is a vital part of both the spiritual world and the human world;
"Japanese love and reverence for nature lies at the root of Shinto". For many other religions, this is
not the case. For Western religions, the "Creator and the created, and the human and natural realms"
do not relate with one another immediately. The Shinto religion can again be seen acting in a more
spiritual way than any other religion. The spirituality of Shinto and its people can be expressed
further:
Shinto was the religion of a pristine people who, above all, were sensitive to the spiritual forces that
pervaded the world of nature in which they lived.
Nature, spirits, and life's existence are important to the Shinto religion. The way in which spirits
existed towards humans can be seen as follows: "In their world myriad spirits shone like fireflies
and every tree and bush could speak". Religion had manifested itself into the Shinto religion. Nature
was the main religious symbol of the religion. The kami, or religious Gods and spirits could be
found everywhere in the Shinto life and religion. The Gods in the Shinto religion are

Shinto Impact On Japanese Culture
Shinto or "the way of the gods," is the oldest religion in the history of Japan. Many of the Shino
beliefs deal with natural disasters, animals, and plants. Over the years Shinto has become more
modern adapting to the changing world, but the core of beliefs still remain the same as they were in
6 bce. Over time due to the different emperors and world events Shinto has had to change in order
for it to remain in practice. A lot of Japanese culture such as dance, literature, and music stem from
the religion, and even today in the 21st century you can see Shinto's affect on Japanese culture.
(Historyteacher, OMF International)
The beginnings of the Shinto faith are not concrete since there were no official recordings of the
beginning of the religion. Shinto was said to date back as early as 6 bce. Many local Japanese cults
during that time are now grouped under the Shinto religion, but were seen as separate religions prior
to the joining of all their beliefs. The first official recordings of Shinto were dated around 8th
century AD. Like many religions, Shinto was believed to have begun with animist living in modern
day Japan. They praised different spirits such as the sun, moon, and rain to help them in their life.
This developed into the idea of Kami the spirit found in plants, animals, etc. The early Japanese
created stories and rituals that allowed them to understand the universe and give them a grasp on the
idea of life and their existence in their strange and scary world.

Shinto Vs Buddhism Essay
Temple and shrine are both used interchangeably because many visitors to Japan can't tell the
difference. To point out, using these terms interchangeably is like saying a church and synagogue
are equivalent. In Japan, there are two major religions practiced by the Japanese people. A shrine is
where Shinto is practiced and Buddhism is practiced at a temple.
Both Shinto and Buddhism date back to thousands of years. Shinto, a spiritual principle, is an
ancient religion of Japan based on the belief that powerful deities called kami (gods) inhabit both
heaven and earth. According to mythology, various kanami were worshipped by their own
individual clans. They often built shrines dedicated to their chosen kami and utilized a shaman or
diviner to ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
It gained wide acceptance in the following century when the nobility advocated it. Bukkyō, a
combination of two words, is the Japanese word for Buddhism. Butsu translates to Buddha and kyō
means doctrine.
In Japan, most people practice both faiths ambiguously as they are nearly parallel to one another.
Shinto primarily focuses on earthly matters, and shrines are often used to host weddings or pray for
good fortune. Whereas Buddhism is considered the religion of spiritual beliefs and practices.
Temples usually host funerals and are a place to pray for ancestors.
You are probably at a Shinto shrine if you cross the threshold of a torii gate, see a pair of guardians
(usually dogs or lions) sitting on each side of the entrance, and cleanse your mouth and hands at a
purification fountain before prayer. Shinto shrines have the suffix "jingu", such as Ise Jingu.
The name of Buddhist temples use the suffix "ji", such as Todaiji. You may find yourself at a
Japanese temple if you see an image of the Buddha, as this is always housed at a Buddhist temple. A
large incense burner is usually located at the front of the temple; it is believed that the smoke has
healing properties. On top of that, there is often a pagoda at a Buddhist

Kamaeony: The Japanese Shinto Ceremony
On July 19, 2014, a Japanese Shinto ceremony was performed at the First Congregational Church in
Portland, Oregon. Presented by the Portland Japanese Garden, the Mikagura ritual is the first of its
kind to ever be performed in the United States. The ceremony was conducted by 25 priests and
shrine–maidens from the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu shrine in the city of Kamakura, Japan. The shrine
is one of the oldest and most sacred Shinto sites in the country, dating back to 1063 A.D.
The teachings of Shinto, Japan's ancient indigenous religion, revere spirits or gods called kami.
Practitioners believe that these divine spirits inhabit the world in the form of natural beings such as
animals, trees, and even some humans. The shrines and rituals of Shinto are devoted to honoring the
individual kami. Unlike in many other religions where the divine and temporal beings are separate,
Shinto teaches that the kami inhabit the same plane of existence as our world. Shinto remains the
largest religion in Japan, and over 80% of Japanese practice the Shinto faith. ... Show more content
The Tsurugaoka Hachimangu shrine, from which the priests and shrine–maidens who conducted the
Portland ceremony come, is one of the most important in the country. The shrine was constructed in
1063, but was relocated by Shogun Minamoto Yoritomo to its present location in Kamakura, the
capital of the Kamakura Shogunate, in 1191. The temple is dedicated to Hachiman, the kami of
archery and war, and Kamakura is the birth–place of the famous Japanese samurai warrior

Shinto And Religion
"Shinto practices include shrine visits; blessings done by priests at the shrines and in the
community; participation in festivals and seasonal holidays, especially New Years; water
purifications; and offerings and prayer at home shrines. Perhaps because of a lack of organizational
structure, Shinto has generated an amazing variety of sects that often borrow from Confucianism,
Buddhism, and even Christianity". (Molloy 2008 p. 274–275) Is it wrong to celebrate one's country
as a religion? No is not wrong for some body or groups people to celebrate the country birthday or
some event that in the past, but what is wrong at least in my opinion is to celebrated your country as
a religion, and worship the moon or other nature things as a gods,

Essay on Traditional Shinto & Modern Japanese Business
The nation of Japan, even more so than other countries, has a long, long history behind it. It's a
country dating back as far as the B.C. Era, and that has experienced various powerful events that has
shaped the country since its birth. As with other nations, an important part of their past lies in their
religion. Before they were introduced to Buddhism and other outside religions, which had a large
impact on their society, the Japanese followed something known as Shinto. As the one religion that
can truly be called "Japanese," it follows that its influences would still remain in the eyes of the
people and only aided by a traditionally xenophobic view of the world. Now, in modern Japan, the
role of fundamental religion has, for the most ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
One of the key aspects of Shinto, and an aspect that made it somewhat difficult for me to study in a
more isolated context, is the flexibility of it. Unlike the Abrahamic religions, there is no strict
religious doctrine or meticulous set of rules that governs the practitioners. Instead, it's much more a
conceptual idea that carries with it various commonalities, specifically in terms of practices and a
very nature–based system of deities (Religions of the World). Although, despite Japan's more
isolated society, they did share certain ideas with other Eastern religions, such as a focus on the
cosmos and harmony with nature and others (Return of the Gods). This led to an interesting dynamic
when other Asian religions and philosophies made their way into Japan. While there might have
been a certain amount of abrasiveness between Shinto and the others at first, the nature of the
religion allowed a unique blending that isn't to often scene between the unique (or semi–unique)
religions of multiple countries. The three most prominent influences came from Chinese
Confucianism and Taoism, and Indian Buddhism. Buddhism in particular had the most influence on
their religion, becoming a near inseparable part of it (Religions of the World). This only supports the
notion that religion is more of an "idea" than what most of us in the west would typically consider
religion. Even before industrialization, Japanese people don't really consider themselves

Bri C. G.
English
Ms. Bjornson
Religion research paper
Shinto
My report is on Shinto. Shinto is a native Japanese religion. It is the way of the Gods. It was
originally taught verbally. Shinto in Japan means "The Way of the Gods. Shinto is the most powerful
influence on the Japanese lives. According to Shinto mythology, gods created Japan and its people.
This is how Shinto came to Japan. Shinto developed from "native folk beliefs". It also had its
beginning in early times, when the Japanese thought that their islands were the only places on earth.
Shinto has a great number of people who believe in their religion. Today close to 60 million people
still believe and practice Shinto.The Shinto's history goes way back to 500 AD's.It was one of the
first main religions that developed in Japan, and that is why there are so many followers of it today.
(Littleton 13–21) Shinto is diffrent from other religions. It is even able to combine with other
religions. Beliefs and practices were passed down throughfamilies, which caused the religions to
change over time. Like the odyssey. Since Japan's earliest days, Shinto has been the code of honor
and action for the Japanese. It is also a polytheistic religion, they believe there is a God for
everything.(brittanica) ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
It was the unwritten religion of Japan. In the 8th century, stuff happened to the imperial family and
Shinto became the major religion of Japan. A group of Japanese samurai took over the government
and made Shinto the official religion. The separation of religion and politics didn't happen until after
World War II. Although, Shinto does not have a fully developed theology. The Kojiki and Nihongi
are regarded as holy books of Shinto, although they are not like the Bible in Christianity or the
Qur'an in Islam, they are more like guidelines

What Is The Impact Of Shinto On Traditional And Modern Japan?
The Impact of Shinto on Traditional and Modern Japan
What is Shintoism?
Shinto is the religion of Japan. Historically, it was first used in the 6th century C.E., although the
roots of the religion go back to the 6th century B.C.E. It is incredibly difficult to trace back
Shintoism because most of the beliefs were passed down orally. Shinto has no founder, no official
sacred texts, and no formalized system of doctrine. Shinto is seldom practiced outside of its origin
country, Japan. Because of this, followers have no need for mission work. In Japan, 83.9% of the
population practices Shintoism. There are over 110,000 Shinto shrines and temples in Japan. The
name Shinto comes from the Chinese characters introduced in Japan that translate to Shen meaning
"divine being", and Tao meaning "way", together meaning "Way of the Spirits". The main belief of
Shinto is in the "kami" or spirits who preside in nature. The kami are not gods, they are simply
concerned with humans, resulting in a symbiotic relationship between humans and kami. If you treat
the spirits well, they will treat you well in return.
Shinto is not a way to explain the workings of the world either, it is simply the appreciation of the
spirits. In Shinto humans are considered as good and has no concept of original sin or that humans
have fallen from grace. There is no leader or founder, and no official scripture. Instead of teaching
commandments, Shinto teaches ethical principles. The ritual of visiting shrines is

A Shinto shrine is a structure whose main purpose is to house one or more Shinto kami (spirit). A
shrine's most important building is used for the safekeeping of sacred objects rather than for
worship.
Although "shrine" is the only word used in English, Shinto shrines have a variety of many different
names used in Japanese. In particular, gongen, –gū, jinja, jingū, mori, myōjin, –sha, taisha, and
ubusuna oryashiro are the nonequivalent names for Shinto shrine.
A Shinto shrine is usually characterized by the presence of a honden, the most sacred building at a
Shinto shrine, where the kami is enshrined. The honden may however be completely absent. In this
case, when a shrine stands on a sacred mountain to which it is dedicated and is ... Show more
The shrine is central in a series of popular sagas and myths.
It enshrines a kami called Ōkuninushi, translating to "Great Land Master". It is believed that he
shaped Japan before it was populated by Amaterasu's offspring, the Emperor's ancestors.
Due to its physical remoteness, Izumo has been eclipsed in fame by other sites. Although, there is
still a widespread belief that all Japanese gods meet there in October. For this reason, it is also
known as Month Without Gods (Kannazuki), while at Izumo Taisha alone it is referred as Month
With Gods (Kamiarizuki). The head shrine of the largest shrine network in Japan is Fushimi Inari
Taisha, which has more than 32 000 members (about a third of the total). Inari Okami worship
started in the 8th century and has continued ever since, expanding to the rest of the country. Located
in Fushimi–ku, Kyoto, the shrine sits at the base of a mountain also named Inari. It also includes
trails up the mountain to many smaller shrines.
Together with Munakata Taisha, Itsukushima Shrine is at the head of the Munakata shrine network.
Dedicated to the three daughters of Susano–o no Mikoto, the shrine is a UNESCO World Heritage

Shinto Religion Essay
Shinto is the oldest religion in Japan. In this religion, members worship deceased family and various
gods that represent nature. Shinto differs from most of the other major religions since it does not
have founder, prophets, nor does it have a "major text which outlines its principal beliefs." Shinto's
longevity is due to its flexibility to adapt and become interwoven with the Japanese culture. In fact,
much of what the Japanese people highly value in a person's character comes from Shinto's key
concepts. Some of the Shinto's key concepts are the importance of purity, physical well–being,
harmony, procreation and fertility, family and ancestral solidarity, subordination of the individual to
the group, and the reverence of nature. They also believe that all things have the "potential for both
good and bad," and that the soul of the deceased can have a huge influence on the living. As stated
before, Shinto does not ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
They were the reasons for many of the "astrological, geographical, and meteorological phenomena"
that the Japanese encountered regularly. Unlike other religions, the sun and supreme deity is a
female and is named Amaterasu. She has a brother named, Susanoo, which is the god of the sea and
storms. There are two gods, Izanami and Izanagi, that created the island of Japan. Although
Amaterasu is the supreme being, she was born from the left eye of Izanagi. Susanoo was born for
the nose of Izanagi. It is said the from Izanagi's right eye, the god of the moon was born. But there
are other important gods besides these in the Shinto religion. Inari, the rice god, is important to
"merchants, shopkeepers, and artisans." The "Seven Lucky Gods," also called Shichifukujin, are
also very popular. Amongst them, Daikokuten and Ebisu are the most popular since they represent
wealth. Daikokuten is also revered by cooks and chefs since he is also known as the god of the

Importance Of Visit To A Shinto Church
I decided to write about my visit to a Shinto Church as my cultural experience. The church I visited
is called Izumo Taisha Mission of Hawaii. I had actually been to this church many times since I was
a child to participate in Japanese cultural events, but I have little knowledge of what the Shinto
religion actually practices. This is also the shrine where my family goes for our New Year's blessing
ritual. Since turning to Christianity, I still liked to attend the church's events and New Year's ritual,
but other than that, I just didn't have the desire to learn more about Shinto. Based on my fieldwork
into the appearance, clothing, and rituals of Shinto, I theorize that Shinto is religion to focuses
highly on keeping one's body and soul pure and in good fortune through worship to multiple God's.
When I visited the church, I had scheduled the meet the Bishop, Daiya Amano. He has been a friend
of my family for a long time, and he was happy to share the Shinto culture despite knowing I had
already chosen my belief. Shinto is one of the two primary religions of Japan, and the church is a
good place for tourist and local Japanese to pay their respects to. Shinto is a religion of polytheism
and animism, and thus, believes in God's of animate and inanimate objects. Shinto believes that
every aspect of life has a God in charge. There's a God of nature, weather, business, knowledge, war,
fishing, etc. Shinto practices a worship to these God's so that they may bring good fortune and

Analysis Of The Tigress By Ise Jingu Shinto Shrine
The three ways in which authority is expressed in the Ise Jingu Shinto shrine. One of the main ways
that authority is expressed at Ise Jingu is in its construction as it is not a permanent building but in
fact rebuilt every twenty–five years in a cycle of birth and renewal. Because of this it requires a
huge monetary and laborious process that has to be organized and the ability to construct this temple
shows that a leader not only has a skilled workforce but also the funds to embark on such a task.
"The Tigress" Jataka is a specific story of one of the Buddha's past lives and covers the themes of
self sacrifice and virtue. The of plot of this story is of a teacher who upon discovery of a tigress
about to eat her cubs due to starvation he

Japanese Religions : Shinto And Buddhism In Japan
Numerous religions are popular within the Japanese culture. Two of the most powerful religions,
Shinto and Buddhism, they are wealthy and complicated, and it consists of many contradictory
developments which may additionally puzzle a Westerner. Inside the center of the way of life is
Shinto, the "natural" faith of Japan. also in the center is Buddhism, the Indian faith that became
added to Japan in the sixth century from Korea and China. For the duration of the history of Japan,
it's been these two religions that have contributed maximum to the Japanese know–how of
themselves and their surroundings, and to many important activities. Shinto and Buddhism that
assist formed plenty of Japanese values are Shinto and Buddhism, played a big role in shaping
Japanese values. Various likenesses and contrasts keep running between these two religions;
nonetheless, Japanese accepts more than one religion at the same time. It is also possible due to the
polytheistic nature of maximum popular religions in Japan. It is not difficult to state that religion is a
major piece of Japanese culture because a ton of religious convictions can in any case be found in
their regular daily existences.
A brief of statement about Shinto, as an antiquated religion of Japan, Shinto was initially a mix of
nature worship, divination strategies, and shamanism. Shinto is a native religion of Japan and
furthermore one of the most established religions on the planet, dated came back to 660 B.C. In
Shinto, regular

Religion In Japan
Our group separated the research on Japan into sections of history, current Religious Education (RE)
in schools, demographics, and government/current policies. There were two main religions that
surrounded Japan: Shinto and Buddhism. In addition, two other religions, Confucianism and
Christianity, also contributed a considerate amount to the RE in Japan. The four major time periods
involving RE in the history of Japan were Pre–Meiji, Meiji Restoration Period, wartime era, and
post–WWII (Inoue 115). There were religious tensions during the Tokugawa shogunate era that
which have led up to the establishments of RE in Japan for RE did not come into place in Japan until
the late 19th centuries until the shogunate gave way to the Meiji Restoration, ... Show more content
Shinto is the belief of kami, spirits, deities that exist as things in nature, such as trees or streams,
watching over the humans on Earth. To the Japanese, Shinto was not particularly a religion but
something that is part of their lives, like "another part of the natural world, albeit a part of enormous
power" (BBC: History 1). So, in a sense, religion actually came into Japan in the 6th century, when
Buddhism, founded by Prince Shotoku (571–622), was transmitted to Japan from China (Web Japan
2). After the birth of Buddhism into Japan, "Shinto faiths and traditions took on Buddhist elements,
and later, Confucian ones" (BBC: History 1). The Emperor Shomu (701–756) adopted Buddhism as
the official state religion and build a huge statute of Buddha to commemorate this occasion. Even
still, the coexistence of Buddhism and Shinto continued (Web Japan 2). Since Buddhism and Shinto
were the main beliefs in Japan, during the time in the 16th century, religious tensions with
Christianity grew when Christian missionaries tried to convert many of the Japanese (BBC: History
2). Due to such actions of forced conversions, Christianity was seen as a threat in Japan and in
which made Buddhism and Shinto the dominant religions in the 17th century "partly because an
anti–Christian measure forced every Japanese person to register at a Buddhist temple and to pay for
the privilege of being a Buddhist" (BBC: History

Shinto Religion
Most people outside of Japan think most of Japan is not religious and that religion does not have any
impact on what they do, which is not true. In fact, most, if not all, of the Japanese practice at least
two religions, which are Buddhism and Shinto. Kami are deities of the Shinto religion. The Japanese
consider their Emperor a kami. In the Shinto religion, only the Japanese can practice and be
considered part of the religion.
While Christians, Catholics, and some other religions go to a church to practice, the Shinto goes to
shrines. The shrines consist of trees, rocks, and potted plants. There are a few pillars with two beams
that are crossed on top of them for the gate as an entrance. In Japanese, they call it a torii. These
shrines are in every city on each street corner, even when the ground is all concrete. They are all
over in the larger cities, too. The Shinto has a particular admiration for nature in some ways (Bestor
and Hardacre).
Buddhism in Japan has temples, where most Japanese families are associated with one of the
temples for a long time. Every Japanese family was required to be associated to a Buddhist temple
in the Edo period (Bestor and Hardacre). Families would hand over their ancestors to ... Show more
One of the religions is Christianity, but they only have one or less than one percent of the
population. During the Meiji period, promoting the education of women and the abolition of
prostitution was the things that were highly influenced by the Christianity religion. Many branches
of Christianity are being represented there. They also have new religious movements, which Japan is
listed as having over 600 of them. New religious movements are only Japan's subsections of
religious life. Tenrikyo being one of the important religious movements having around 250,000
members. Tenrikyo was founded in 1838. Women are the majority of the new religious movement's

The Religions : Buddhism And Shinto
There are many aspects of this world such as culture, technology, or art that have been influenced by
other things. The way that things influence each other has allowed for new possibilities and ideals to
be formed. Religion is no exception; there have been many instances where religions have
influenced each other and blossomed due to new ideas being presented. A good example of this the
relationship between the two religions: Buddhism and Shinto. Buddhism was brought into Japan
during the early 6th century from Korea, and was later institutionalized as the state religion in the
late 6th century by Prince Shōtoku. The Prince was a great patron of Buddhism and by having made
it the state religion, it would help Buddhism spread. However, Japan was not without its own
religion–Shinto–which had been there for many years prior to the arrival of Buddhism. With
Buddhism gaining traction in Japan with the help of Prince Shōtoku, what then does it mean for the
Shinto religion? However, Shinto was not long forgotten, which leads to the question: how did the
two religions, Buddhism and Shinto, interact with each other when Buddhism arrived in Japan? In
this essay, I will discuss how both Buddhism and Shinto were closely tied to each other in Japan,
and how they would influence each other in different ways that allowed them to grow into new
directions. One of the first aspects of Shinto to look in regards to relations with Buddhism is the
name itself; the meaning of the name "Shinto"

Research Paper On Shinto Religion
Shinto is an ancient indigenous religion of Japan that is often considered Japan's national religion. It
certainly plays an important role in the lives of many, if not most, Japanese people, and it is closely
tied to Japan's national identity. Shinto has no known founder and no sacred texts or formal written
doctrine, which makes it stand out from most of the other religions that we have studied about this
semester. Central to the Shinto religion is the belief in the kami, which are considered spirits or
gods; in fact, Shinto literally means "the way of the kami". According to Shinto beliefs the kami
permeate every area of nature and every human also contains a kami. In this sense the kami that
each person has within them can be considered ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
According to Shinto beliefs, when a person dies their kami lives on. Ancestor worship is an aspect
of Shinto because adherents believe that their ancestors are spirit–deities and look out for them.
Therefore, a Shinto worshipper believes that when a person dies they become a sort of deity, a sort
of "family spirit". An interesting ritual related to this that I found is that "whenever a child is born in
Japan, a local Shinto shrine adds the child's name to a list kept at the shrine and declares him or her
a 'family child'". In this way, when a person whose name is on the temple's list dies, they join the
spirits of the region. Interestingly enough, when a person moves they often get their name added to
the temple in their new area; this is a sign that the local kami have welcomed the person and that
upon death the person will be able to join those kami. It is interesting that Shinto followers believe
that when a child dies before getting his or her name added at the Shinto shrine their spirits become
mischievous and troublesome kami known as "water spirits". They are sometimes worshipped in
order to appease them so that they will not cause any trouble or get too angry. "Although a soul or
kami is eternal and able to connect with the Divine, souls have transitory and fleeting qualities–they
can change shape, move around or even split so that two or more elements can exist in different
places"

Shinto: Native Religion Of Japan
Shinto
Shinto is the native religion of Japan that has been around since 1000 B.C.E and is still practised
today. Shinto is a polytheist religion in which they worship many deities known as kami, the word
Shinto means 'the way of the gods', and it was derived from Chinese ( shen dao), "shin" meaning
kami and "to" meaning a philosophical path.( Honcho 2012)
Unlike other major religions, Shinto doesn't have a founder, it doesn't have scriptures or a bible,
although it does have 2 books written about it in the early 7th century called the Kojiki and the
Nihon Shoki. and it also doesn't have an all mighty god which is more or so unheard of in western
country's. Shinto instead has many gods,and they believe that everything, water, the earth, the ...
After world war two Shinto and the Japanese government separated and the government could no
longer support Shinto, this was because the Japanese people in world war two worshiped the
emperor as a god and this lead to corruption in the country. This meant that the government couldn't
pay for the upkeep of shrines and they started to dwindle, because of this the Japanese people started
becoming more industrial and some people slowly stopped attending Shinto shrines. Even though a
lot of community's gathered money to repair shrines when they were damaged, less populated
community's suffered as this happened more in urban community's. This is one of the reasons people
slowly developed into moving towards other religions such as Buddhism and sect Shinto, which is a
form of Shinto that was developed to work in the modern world and the booming industries in the
1950s. One of the ways the government helped keep Shinto alive was to revitalize the old rituals
into festivals to help people stay in touch with their heritage, now there are festivals all over japan
for many occasions. Although there are still a lot of shrines today that don't have any priests
attending them, this is because priests are congregating at larger shrines

The Shinto Religion

More Related Content

Similar to The Shinto Religion

More from Chelsea Porter

Recently uploaded

The Shinto Religion