SHINTO

What is Shinto?

“The way of the gods” Ancient, indigenous, mythical, nature

religion of JapanWide varietyHard to define

No founder – An “ethnic” religion of the Japanese people

The root and embodiment of Japanese culture

Shinto’s HistoryMore than 1500 years oldJapanese worship had consisted of a

variety of practicesAncestor worship, animism, many gods

Chinese missionaries brought Buddhism, Confucianism, TaoismName ‘Shinto’ originated to

differentiate between the old & new customs

Shinto dictated ways of daily life, Buddhism dictated thoughts on afterlife

Shinto’s RevivalShinto was so blended it had

almost disappeared by the 8th century

Tokugawa Regime (1600-1867)Military leadersSought to eliminate outside influenceReligions pushed out (Except

Confucianism since it supported military ethics)

Samurai1853, Commodore Perry opened

trade between Japan and US

Shinto Mythology

Two main texts: Kojiki (myths of ancient times, origins of

gods and man, islands of Japan)Nihonji (ancient history of Japan)

The Kami: gods & goddesses PolytheisticPresent everywhere, in nature and people

Creation myth – Japan as the center of the world

Izanagi (“male”) & izanami (“female”) (brother & sister) create the islands of Japan

Shinto Mythology

Amaterasu – the Sun GoddessMother of the first emperor of Japan

Three kindsof Shinto

1. Shrine/Folk Shinto2. State Shinto3. Sect Shinto

Shrine Shintoa.k.a. Domestic Shinto

Jinja (shrines) - Tens of thousands located throughout Japan

Torii – entry gate, separates sacred from profane space

Household shrines – kami-dana (god shelf)Contain offerings for ancestors, etc.

State Shinto

Constitution of 1889end of WWIIEmphasis on Japanese culture and

nationality (elimination of foreign influences)

Emperors of Japan as divine Hierarchy of shrines:

Main shrine at Ise – dedicated to AmaterasuMother goddess of Japan

Palace shrines honoring Amaterasu, other kami, and emperors

Shrines elsewhere dedicated to national heroes

97% of remaining shrines dedicated to local kami

Sect Shinto

13 recognized sects1. Mountain worship2. Faith healers3. Pure Shinto (similar to yoga

practices in Hinduism) Some combine Shinto with

influences from Buddhism or other religions

The Problem for Humans

AlienationHumans can become ritually unclean

and need purificationEstranged from the kami and need

communicationAlienated from family, ancestors,

community, emperor thru failure to do what’s expected

Solution: reconciliation thru offerings, prayer, heroic deeds, ritual suicide

Community

Devotion to family and country governs all conductPeople are a part of something

(family, nation, etc.)Duty to sacrifice your selfish

impulses to good of the wholeGroups govern your behavior

and consequences

The FourAffirmations

Tradition and FamilyLove of NaturePhysical cleanlinessMatsuri: festivals that worship

and honor the Kami

The End

Shinto PracticesTradition and Family

Life cycle celebrations take place at shrines:

Newborn’s first visit to shrine7-5-3 festival: blessings for boys age

5, girls ages 3 & 7Entry to adulthood (age 20)Marriage(since Shinto celebrates life in this world,

in death, the Japanese turn to Buddhist rather than Shinto rituals)

Shinto Practices

Love of Nature:Annual cycle of seasonal festivals

Physical Cleanliness:Misoji - Water purification rites to

wash away impurity, thus restoring original purity

Shinto on the Web

Ancient Japan: Shinto Creation Stories http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/ANCJAPAN/CREAT.HTM

Visit a Shinto shrine on-line: Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America http://www.tsubakishrine.com/test/home.asp

The Shinto Online Network Association http://www.jinja.or.jp/english/s-0.html