BETHESDA UNIVERSITY

THEOLOGY

JAPANESE RELIGION: SHINTOISM

MEMBERS: SHIRLEY GARCIA

ANDREA AVILA
Mauricio Roca
SUBJECT: SECTS AND RELIGIONS
TEACHING: LIC. EDILIO CASTRO
 Shintoism

Shintoism is a religion of Japanese origin based on the worship of the Kami or spirits of nature. The
term Kami refers to that which is above the human condition or above man but is often translated
as spirit or god. Shintoism (Shito means “the divine path” in Japanese)

 Type of religion: Polytheistic

 Holy books: Kojiki and Shoku Nihongi
 Origin: Japan
 Deities: Ame-no-minaka-nushi-no-kami (root of the universe) and the other kamis.

It is based on the veneration of the kami or spirits of nature. Some kami are local and are known as
spirits[Link] or genies of
a particular place, but others represent larger natural objects and processes, for example,
Amaterasu, the Sun[Link] goddess.
Shintoism is currently the second most popular religion in Japan, only slightly surpassed by
Japanese Buddhism. The number of practitioners varies from 108 million (80% of the population in
2003) who have Shinto practices and/or influences to 4 million (3.3%) who practice it regularly and
identify with the official form of the religion.
The origins of Shintoism date back to ancient times, when it was still a cult of natural phenomena
(storms, mountains, the Sun, the Moon or rivers), which believers identified with deities called
kami.
From the 6th century AD, the national religion of Japan began to be influenced, via China, by
Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism. This last religion, in addition to influencing many aspects of
later Shinto worship, constituted a new and unique branch of the islands, Zen Buddhism, which in
recent decades has aroused Western interest due to the simplicity of its rites and the
attractiveness of its arts and meditation techniques.

Popular Shinto, under foreign influence and at the same time under Japanese nationalism, became
the state religion and, despite this status, after the Second World War it has maintained its status
among the majority of Japanese who, although they do not believe in the kami, continue to make
offerings to them.
Revival of Classical Shintoism
In the early centuries of the first millennium, before the death of Jesus Christ, Buddhism spread
throughout Japan and absorbed local beliefs. Thus, the “spirits” were considered as “Buddhas”
and incorporated into Buddhism. However, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, scholars
rediscovered the ancient texts and a revival of Classical Shinto began. The country looked to its
mythical past to build a strong and proud nation.

The spiritual path

Shinto is often understood as the “way” that allows Japanese society to unite in values and
attitudes, and in which myths and religious practices are unifying elements.
Shintoism has neither a creator nor a collection of religious texts nor a fixed or consensual body of
doctrine.

The word “shinto” means “the way of the gods or spirits.” This belief goes back to an animistic
conception of the world, associated with the tribal cult of clan deities.
Shintoism, or Shintoism, is an early, popular religion of Japan, so named in the 8th century to
distinguish it from Buddhism, from which it later incorporated many features. It arose from the
nature cult of popular religions, and this is reflected in ceremonies that invoke the mysterious
powers (spirits or deities) of nature (kami) to receive benevolent treatment and protection. Nature
is inhabited by an infinite cohort of such deities or spirits, and human life is intimately linked to
their thoughts and actions. Therefore, Shinto religion is a combination of nature worship and
ancestral worship, and in most cases the nature-myth is inseparable from the nature relative to
the ancestral deity and its worship.
The fundamental myths of Japanese Shinto are collected in the Kojiki (written in 712) and the
Nihongi (written in 720). They describe the creation of the cosmos, from chaos, in an oval shape
that later separated. During the subsequent mythological age of the gods, the world and its kamis
were formed. A succession of seven generations of divinities was the result of the marriage of a
male Izanagi kami and a female Izanami kami, and together they created the terrestrial world with
water, mountains and other natural elements. In this context, death was marginalized as an evil
that hinders life and was driven away through purification rites. They also created the Japanese
islands as a special feature. From Izanagi and Izanami descends the solar goddess Amaterasu, who
gave rise to the imperial lineage of Japan. The fundamental Shinto myths thus summarise the
divine origin of Japan, its emperors and its subjects, and highlight the significance of the divinities
or kamis, who are the foundation of the Japanese land and its inhabitants.

Definition
The term Shinto means "way of the gods." It is considered the original religion of Japan, a popular
cult that can be described as a sophisticated form of
[Link] animism with veneration of ancestors, deeply
identified with Japanese culture.
Terminology
Initially, this ethnic, indigenous religion had no name until the introduction of Buddhism into Japan
(during the 6th century) from China via Korea. One of the names given to Buddhism was butsudo,
which means "the way of the Buddha." In order to distinguish Buddhism from the native religion,
the latter soon became known by the name Shinto. The Japanese chose to use a Chinese name for
their religion because at that time (more than a millennium ago), Chinese was the only written
language in Japan, as writing for their own language had not yet been developed. The phrase that
means Shinto in Japanese is kami no michi.
Origins
Religions originating in several Asian countries retain similar patterns, such as in China, Japan and
[Link] with respect to elements of ancestor worship.
This is because their concepts are based on the idea that the soul or essence also remains linked to
the body after death or can remain close to it, and may perhaps return as a demon or ghost to
harm humans if offerings and a certain veneration are not presented to it.
These concepts are closely linked to the type of life originating from the agricultural work of the
people, since Japan was exploited by linked settlers who lived in dependence on the forces of
nature and the cycles of the seasons, which were considered to be able to be influenced in a
beneficial way by dominating them through magic and ritual.
Humans, eager to attain possession of the magical force that would cause productive yields from
nature, devised a series of practices that were carried out by shamans and later by emperors.

History

The history of Shintoism is one of the oldest religions in the world and does not have a defined
date of origin, since it was part of the ethnic culture of Japan and lacked a specific name in its
beginnings.

The Japanese chose the Chinese term Shinto to differentiate this cult from Buddhism – which was
introduced in Japan in the 6th century – and because they did not yet have a developed written
language.

Like many Asian religions, it was linked to country life, the veneration of ancestors, the forces of
nature, the belief in the soul and its union with the body after death.

It was proclaimed the state religion of Japan by the Emperor between 1868 and 1945 to stimulate
national pride and reject Buddhism as a foreign religion.

Types of Shintoism
The main types of Shinto are related to each other:

 Koshitsu shinto (Imperial House Shinto)

 Jinja Shinto (Shinto Shrine)
 Shuha Shinto (Shinto sects)
 Minzoku Shinto (Folk Shinto)

- Koshitsu Shinto
It is a general term for a rite performed by the Emperor (who is the symbol of the state and unity
of the people according to the Japanese constitution), to pray to the deities at the center of which
is Amaterasu Ohmikami (an ancestral deity of the Emperor according to Japanese myths), and to
the imperial ancestral deities for the long and prosperous existence of the country, the happiness
of the people and world peace. The Daijosai, or grand festival, is the first Niinamesai held by the
newly crowned Emperor of Japan in a palace called Daijokyu, which is temporarily built within the
Imperial Palace. In addition to the above, the rites performed at the Ise Grand Shrine must be
included in this category, since Amaterasu Ohmikami is also located there, according to the beliefs
of the cult.
Niinamesai is the most important Shinto rite, which is performed to offer the first fruits harvested
of the year, thus thanking the deities for their blessing, in addition to sharing the food produced by
these first grains with them. According to Japanese myths, Amaterasu Ohmikami was the first to
perform this rite.
When the capital of Japan was transferred from [Link] to
Tokyo[Link] in 1869, three
imperial shrines were erected within the Imperial Palace. Kashikodokoro, which enshrines the
imperial ancestral deity, Amaterasu Ohmikami, stands at the center of the three; on the east side,
there is the Shinden, which enshrines the deities of heaven and earth; and on the west side, there
is the Koreiden, which enshrines the spirits of preceding emperors. In addition to these, Shinkaden
was built to enclose Niinamesaithere. These shrines are connected by corridors, and all the
Koshitsu (Imperial House) rites of Shinto are performed at these shrines.
As a link to Niinamesai, Emperor Shōwa (the 124th, 127th, emperor and grandfather of the current
emperor, Naruhito) began to grow rice in a water field within the palace, doing all the procedures
himself, including planting and harvesting, in order to make an offering to the deities from what he
produced.
The men and women of the clergy are called in Shinto shoten
and[Link] https://
[Link]/w/[Link]?title=Shoten_(hombre_del_shinto)&action=edit&redlink=1 nai-
shoten, respectively, and are at the service of the emperor to help him perform his rites. The
number of rites performed by the emperor reaches several hundred a year, including Genshisai,
which is the first rite of the year. There are scholars who call the emperor "the King of rituals." It is
believed that the true nature of the emperor is to always be with the kami (deities).
- Jinja Shinto
Also called "temple Shinto", it is the worship of the gods professed in
[Link] or chapels[Link] It is
considered the original form of religion and its origins date back to the country's prehistory. It is
the largest branch of Shintoism with more than 80,000 temples that make up the Association of
Shinto Temples, and until the end of the Second World War (1939-1945) it was closely linked to
Koshitsu Shinto, which worships the Emperor, adored as a living god.
In 1956, as Emperor worship and Japanese nationalism continued to be encouraged, Jinja Honcho
(the headquarters of the shrine or “Association of Shinto Shrines”) made a declaration: the
“general characteristics of a life lived in reverence of the kami.”
Its main points are:

1. To acknowledge the blessings of the kami and the benefits of the ancestors, one must be
diligent in observing the rituals of Shintoism, applying these with sincerity, joy and purity
of heart.
2. To be of benefit to others and to be great in the world of direct deeds, one must serve
without thinking of reward and seek the advancement of the world as the will of the
kami.
3. To bind oneself with others, in harmonious recognition of the emperor's will, pray that the
country may prosper and that other people may also live in peace and prosperity.
The history of Shinto shrines cannot be summarized, as all shrines have their own peculiar history,
legends, ritual calendar, kami and associated beliefs. Some chapels are very old, existing before
any written records, while some of the most famous chapels were built 150 years ago. Shrines are
built in a variety of architectural styles, from the wood and thatch simplicity of the Ise Jingu, to the
rich ornate Gongenstyle shrine at Nikko.
The symbol of the Shinto shrine is universal, the torii or portal that marks the approach to a shrine.
Torii come in a variety of sizes and styles, and shrines vary substantially in layout and appearance,
reflecting the era in which they were built or rebuilt, the character of the surrounding district, or
the features of the natural landscape. Most shrines have at least one honden, a passageway in
which the kami symbol is displayed. Larger chapels have a heiden or offering hall, where devotees
make ritual offerings to the chapel, and a haiden or worship hall. While some of the larger chapels
receive a more or less constant stream of visitors, most of the smaller chapels are used only
occasionally, mainly during festivities.
- Minzoku Shinto
Folk or popular Shinto is a Shinto faith that was commonly practiced by ordinary people without
the need to be systematized. Therefore, it is inseparable from the Shinto Shrine. However, during
the time of the 40th Emperor, Temmu (673-686), he was expelled from the Shinto shrine when the
government of the time established a system related to traditional Japanese rituals and festivals,
which had been practiced in parallel with Buddhist rituals. After this, popular Shinto gradually
developed on its own from a complex form of rituals and festivals, which sometimes mixed
practices associated with Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. Among them, those who have not
lost the traditional form of Shinto are considered folk or popular Shinto.
In a farming community, for example, there is a custom that rituals are performed by a lay man
without the involvement of a priest. A member of the community (often the youngest boy) is
nominated as "Toya", and he performs the rites to worship the local deities for a year under the
rotation system.
Other examples of folk Shinto are rituals related to the passages of life and the passing of the year.
They are closely related to the rites and festivals carried out by Shinto shrines.

Characteristics

Among the characteristics of Shintoism the following can be mentioned:

 It is the oldest religion in Japan.

 The fundamental doctrines affirm that Japan is the country of the gods and that its people
are descended from them.
 It has no founder.
 Among its sacred texts is the Kojiki, which tells of the mythological origins of Japan and the
emperor.
 Worship the “Kami” or spirits of nature. There are many types of Kami.
 The Japanese are children of the Kami.
 Shinto rituals include dances, prayers, cleansings and healing or protective incantations.

Influences
According to Shintoism, Japan was born as a country thanks to the union of the pair of original
gods Izanagi and Izanami[Link]
Izanagi, who were ordered to create and order the world (with Japan as the only center) and hang
the pillar of heaven, the universal axis that unites heaven and earth. This plays an essential role in
understanding the national identity and the significance of the emperor within this religion that
remains present in the pure idiosyncrasy of its people.[Link] - cite_note-markus-33
Since the introduction of Buddhism into Japan in the 6th century, it has had a profound influence
on Shinto, although the latter has also been adapted and shaped in this country to give it a
distinctive form. Both religions define Japanese religiosity; the Japanese tend to practice the rites
of both traditions depending on the nature of the occasion (they tend to prefer Shinto for birth
and marriage rituals, and Buddhism for funeral rites).
Many of the Japanese "new religions" have a strong Shinto influence.
Because Shintoism does not seek to convert, criticize or conflict with other religions, its expansion
outside the islands of Japan has generally been limited to Japanese emigration communities;
although in the roots of modern traditional martial arts or gendai budō; of sumo, aikidō, and judo,
its influence can be seen in several of its movements and especially in its philosophy and rituals, as
pacifist martial arts, and of a defensive nature.

Gods and rites of Shintoism

In Shintoism there are more than 8 million gods or Kami but the primordial couple is Izanagi and
Izanami, who created the world making Japan the sole center and placing in it a pillar that served
as an axis between heaven and earth. Amaterasu is the goddess of the sun and is the ancestor of
the emperor.

Seeks the balanced relationship between nature, the kami and men. The Kami are everywhere and
are guardians and protectors of nature.

Japanese ancestors who have been brave also become Kami after their deaths.

- Amaterasu: Female Japanese deity representing the Sun. The Emperor of Japan was
considered his direct descendant. She can be identified with the celestial Buddha
Vairocana.
- Ema: Wooden tablet where requests and prayers to the kami are written. They are used in
Shinto shrines.

- Haiden: A type of platform in Shinto temples on which offerings are presented to the kami.

- Hatsumode: Shinto New Year celebration.

- Hinamatsuri: Shinto celebration known as Youth Day. It is celebrated in March.
- Honden: Central building of Shinto temples, where the sacred object venerated at the site
is located, an object that usually symbolizes a kami. Standing in front of the honden,
worshippers deposit coins or rice wrapped in paper into the offering box.
- Inari: Shinto deity or kami that symbolizes rice. She is the most venerated in temples,
although she is now considered the patron of business in general, not just agricultural
business.
- Ise: Shinto shrine to which the faithful have come on pilgrimage for centuries. These
pilgrimages were very much a form of secular celebration, as is demonstrated by the fame
enjoyed by the taverns and brothels of Ise.

- Kami: Name given to the countless deities that populate nature. This cult forms the basis
of popular Shintoism.
- Kasuga: Name given to Shinto shrines of some importance.
- Konkokyo: Branch of Shintoism founded in 1859 by Bunjiro Kawate, after several divine
revelations. This movement differs from Shintoism in that it affirms the existence of a
mediator (specifically Kawate himself) between God (Konko) and humanity. He has half a
million followers.
- Meiji: Japanese Empire of the 19th century in which Shinto ritual became a state
imposition.
- Michizane, Sugawara: Sage of the 10th century AD In many Shinto altars he is venerated as
a kami.

- Omotokyo: Also known as “the Great Origin,” it is a sect of Shintoism founded by a woman
named Nao Deguchi, who came from the ranks of the Konkokyo movement. His pacifism
has caused him problems with various governments in Japan and a certain affinity with
some Christian organizations. His doctrine is based on the pantheistic principle that all
creatures are animated by the soul of God.
- State rites: A tradition of the Meiji Empire that has endured and includes a series of
national celebrations based on Shinto rites: Culture Day, Adult Day, Agricultural Festivals,
State Foundation Day, and the controversial Emperor's Birthday.
- Sakaki: A tree endemic to Japan, whose branches are used in Shinto offerings.
- Seicho no ie: Also known as “House of Growth,” it is a branch of Shintoism founded in
1893 by a former member of Omotokyo named Masaharu Taniguchi. Its message, which is
somewhere between Japanese nationalism and New Age, has attracted many followers
throughout the 20th century, and currently has three million followers.

- Sekai kyuseyko: A Shinto sect founded in 1934 by Mokichi Okada, a former follower of
Omotokyo, which bases its activity on healing, halfway between ritual practices and
traditional medicine, called jorei. His million followers are in Japan and a few other
countries, such as Thailand and Brazil.

- Sekai mahikari bunmei kyodan: Branch of Shintoism founded in 1959 by Yoshikazu Okada.
It is based on the okiyome, a healing ritual for initiates that manages to expel, through the
True Light, the spirits of previous lives, which are the ones that cause the disease. They
therefore believe in reincarnation and incorporate concepts from Buddhism and the Bible.

- Shichigochan: Shinto holiday of Children's Day. It is celebrated in November.

- Shimenawa: Thick rope made of rice straw used in some purification rites, called suygo,
which are celebrated at natural waterfalls.
 - Political Shinto: Legitimation of Japanese rulers through solemn rites by priests. By
adapting some aspects of popular Shinto, he ended up creating the so-called State Shinto,
which disappeared after the Second World War.
- Popular Shinto: Traditional branch of Shintoism, based on the cult of the kami and various
forms of personal religiosity that differ slightly depending on the region.

- Tamashiro: Portable altar where the dead are placed in Shinto funeral rites, in which the
deceased is considered another kami.

- Torii: Ceremonial gate of Shinto temples. Its shape often has symbolic connotations and is
reminiscent of Japanese calligraphy. Its function is to establish the division between the
ordinary, earthly world and the sacred precinct.
- Yasukuni: Shinto altar in Tokyo where worship has been and is still being paid to those
who have died for their country. It is a center with a clear military connotation.

Internships

 Each shrine is dedicated to [Link] specific kami who possesses a

divine personality and who responds to the sincere prayers of the faithful. Upon entering a
shrine, one passes through a torii, a special gate for the gods, which marks the passage
between the finite world and the infinite world of the gods.
 In the past, believers practiced the purification rite or misogi, consisting of washing their
bodies in a river near the sanctuary. In recent years they only wash their hands and rinse their
mouths in sinks provided by the sanctuary.
 Believers respect animals as messengers of the gods. This is why a pair of koma-inu (guard
dog) statues are always found at the shrine.
 Temple ceremonies include cleansing, offerings, prayers, and dances directed to the kami.
 Kagura are ritual dances accompanied by ancient musical instruments (performed by skilled
and trained dancers). They consist of young virgin girls, and a group of men or just one.
 Mamori are charms used as healing and protection aids. These charms come in various shapes
and serve various purposes.
 In many homes, the gods are given a central place with an altar called kami-dana.
 Origami (paper figures): This is a popular Japanese art in which paper is folded to create a
wide variety of beautiful designs. They are often seen around Shinto shrines. Out of respect
for the tree from which the paper used to make origami was extracted, it is never cut.

Sanctuaries and worship

Japanese Shinto shrines come in a variety of sizes and shapes. At the lowest level are the home
shrines, which are often “god shelves” (kamidama), in which the kamis are stored. They are placed
in the rooms of many houses and in other places, for example, shops. Along the same lines, there
are “portable” shrines called mikoshi, which are kept in temples and taken out when processions
are held.
Larger Shinto shrines often have an entrance arch or torii where people wash their hands and rinse
their mouths, a room where priests conduct worship, and a kami room toward which worship is
directed and in which symbols of the kami, such as a sword or a mirror, are placed. Large shrines,
such as the one dedicated to the goddess Amaterasu in Ise, are renowned nationwide.

Shinto worship (or matsuri) is practiced both in public (temples) and private settings and revolves
around the events of daily life, family or community. Shinto worship is summed up in the word
matsuri (festivities). Matsur involves serving the kami or authority, which implies an attitude of
respect and obedience. In public, matsuri is expressed in the form of a festivity in which the kami
is received as a guest who is revered with acts of gratitude.
There is a very elaborate ritual for entering a temple. The path to a Shinto temple is marked by a
torii. Symbolically, it separates the sacred place surrounding the temple from the profane outside
world. Torii are often quite far from the temple.

Near the temple, before the entrance, there is a pond or other type of pool over which a sacred
bridge is erected. This, like the torii, separates the sacred world of the temple from the profane
world outside. Many Shinto temples were sacred areas around which sacred objects such as trees,
ponds or stones were distributed and today, in most cases, they have become forests throughout
the entire Japanese territory.

The temples house one or more kamis or divinities. They are visited throughout the year and
especially attract numerous followers on holidays. Pilgrimages to ask for favors from the deities
are also notable religious acts.

Shinto rites

Shinto rituals were performed through dances called “Kagura” to bridge the gap between man and
the gods. In ancient times, a virgin woman performed the dance to the Goddess Ame-no Uzume
and who possessed her so that she could bless children and cure their illnesses through prayers.

Rituals are related to two fundamental concepts: “the pure” and “the impure.” There are many
ways to combat impurities such as using salt or rice. There are three main rites: abstention and
avoidance of various elements by priests, accidental dishonours and finally, the request for
decontamination of a serious act.

Before performing the rituals, the faithful must wash their hands and mouth. Among the best-
known rituals are: New Year's Day and Setsubun, which takes place in spring and winter.

Symbol of Shintoism

Torii is the best-known symbol of Shintoism and the icon with which it is graphically identified. It is
a sacred portal to the gods that marks the boundaries between the profane world and the world
of the gods. This monument is located at the entrance of the Shinto temples.

Sacred Books of Shintoism

The sacred texts of Shintoism are historical texts that recount the origin of Japan. Their names are
Kojiki (meaning “record of ancient things”) and Shoku Nihongi.

Endnotes
Shintoism affirms the existence of divinities or spiritual beings (kami) that can be found in nature
or in higher levels of existence. This term, which constitutes the central concept of the cult, came
to be applied to any supernatural force or god, such as nature gods, outstanding men, deified
ancestors, or even "deities representing certain ideals or symbolizing an abstract power" (The
Encyclopedia of Religion). Although the term Yaoyorozu-nokami literally means "eight million
gods," it is used to refer to "many gods," as the number of deities in the Shinto religion is
constantly increasing. The Japanese, as children of the spirits or kami, have above all a divine
nature. Therefore, it is about living in harmony with the kami (jp: (神)), and thus one will be able to
enjoy their protection and approval. It is also important to note the existence of Japanese ghosts
and other mythological beings in their pantheon, called tengu[Link]
Shintoism does not have a single, predominant deity or established rules for prayer, although it
does have mythical narratives that explain the origin of the world and humanity, temples and
religious festivals that are attended by thousands of people on special dates. Although Shinto is
not based on dogma or complex theology, it has given the Japanese a code of practical values,
shaped their behavior, and determined their way of thinking. There are temples where you can
worship different deities when you feel the need to do so.

Sociological analysis

If asked about their religion, a good portion of Japanese will answer that they are Buddhist or
Shinto, or that they do not practice any. And the reality is that very few have a religion that affects
their lives. Among those who have it, Christians are among the most educated, and have thus
exerted an influence far beyond their small number.

According to official statistics, 70% of Japanese people say they do not believe in any particular
religion.

The ancestral connections their families may have with a Buddhist temple, for example, do not
usually affect their daily lives. In most cases, “family religion” tends to be reduced to certain acts
that are customarily carried out in a certain way: naming newborns, weddings (generally Shinto
functions) and funerals (Buddhist).

Theological analysis

Although these are practices that do not attack either the name or nature, they do so
unconsciously and implicitly against God, by having, not one or two, but many, thousands and
millions of gods, when the first commandment says that we should not have other gods outside of
God.

Psychological analysis

This religion has played an important role in Japan as it is one of the oldest religions that exists and
that supports this religion. So we can say that parents are instilling in their children, read this in
their minds, things that they are growing up taking seriously, right? And worshiping many gods is
why there are so many beautiful offerings made in the temples.

Values and principles similar to Christianity

No Christian value, principle, or even behavior has been found other than to marvel and be in awe
at the beauty of God's creation. But still they do not recognize it, and, in addition to marveling and
being amazed, they give honor to those whom they should not.

Although Shintoism is not based on dogmas or theological doctrines, it has served as a code of
practical values and determined their way of thinking.
SHORT REINFORCEMENT QUESTIONNAIRE

1. In which country did Shintoism originate?

2. What are the Kami?

3. What does the word “Sinto or Shinto” mean?

4. What are the main types of Shinto?

5. For Shinto, what are the names of the first man and the first woman?

6. Who is Amaterasu?

7. What does the torii mean?

8. What is matsuri called?