Shintoism

ShintoismShintoism

神道神道

ShintōShintō is a native religion of Japan. is a native religion of Japan. It involves the worship of It involves the worship of kamikami, , which could be translated to mean which could be translated to mean gods, nature spirits, or just spiritual gods, nature spirits, or just spiritual presences. presences.

Worship of Worship of kamikami, also mean , also mean "sacred spirits which take the "sacred spirits which take the form of things and concepts form of things and concepts important to life, such as wind, important to life, such as wind, rain, mountains, trees, rivers rain, mountains, trees, rivers and fertility.and fertility.

Izanagi no Mikomoto ("Exalted Male")

Izanami no Mikoto ("Exalted Female")

Amaterasu-ōmikami

BeliefsBeliefs Believers revere "musuhi", the Kamis' creative Believers revere "musuhi", the Kamis' creative

and harmonizing powers. They aspire to have and harmonizing powers. They aspire to have "makoto", sincerity or true heart. This is "makoto", sincerity or true heart. This is regarded as the way or will of Kami. regarded as the way or will of Kami.

Shinto holds a generally positive view of Shinto holds a generally positive view of human naturehuman nature. All of humanity is regarded as . All of humanity is regarded as "Kami's child." Thus all human life and human "Kami's child." Thus all human life and human nature is sacred. nature is sacred.

Morality is based upon that which is of benefit Morality is based upon that which is of benefit to the group. "Shinto emphasizes right to the group. "Shinto emphasizes right practice, sensibility, and attitude."practice, sensibility, and attitude."

BeliefsBeliefs

In its view of history, Shinto adheres to the cyclical In its view of history, Shinto adheres to the cyclical approach, according to which there is a constant approach, according to which there is a constant recurrence of historical patterns. Shinto does not have recurrence of historical patterns. Shinto does not have the concept of the "last day": there is no end of the the concept of the "last day": there is no end of the world or of history. the present moment is the very world or of history. the present moment is the very center in the middle of all conceivable times. In order center in the middle of all conceivable times. In order to participate directly in the eternal development of to participate directly in the eternal development of the world, it is required of Shintoists to live fully each the world, it is required of Shintoists to live fully each moment of life, making it as worthy as possible.moment of life, making it as worthy as possible.

BeliefsBeliefs

parishioners of a shrine believe in their tutelary kami parishioners of a shrine believe in their tutelary kami as the source of human life and existence. Each kami as the source of human life and existence. Each kami has a divine personality and responds to truthful has a divine personality and responds to truthful prayers. prayers.

Shinto does not believe in any propaganda or Shinto does not believe in any propaganda or preaching, thus producing no real icon or symbol for preaching, thus producing no real icon or symbol for the religion as it is mostly based off of traditions. the religion as it is mostly based off of traditions. Unlike western religions there is no real dogma , and Unlike western religions there is no real dogma , and instead the main focus becomes the worship of the instead the main focus becomes the worship of the Kami, the divine consciousness that runs through Kami, the divine consciousness that runs through everything .everything .

The Four Affirmations of ShintoismThe Four Affirmations of Shintoism

1. Tradition and the Family.1. Tradition and the Family.

2. Love of Nature 2. Love of Nature

3. Physical Cleanliness 3. Physical Cleanliness

4. Matsuri4. Matsuri

PracticesPractices

Shinto Shinto ceremoniesceremonies are designed to appeal to are designed to appeal to the kami for benevolent treatment and the kami for benevolent treatment and protection and consist of:protection and consist of: abstinence (abstinence (imiimi)) offeringsofferings prayers and prayers and purification (purification (haraeharae) by washing with water, ) by washing with water,

symbolically removes the dust and impurities that symbolically removes the dust and impurities that cover one's inner mind. cover one's inner mind.

PracticesPractices

Shinto does not have weekly religious Shinto does not have weekly religious services. Some may go to the shrines on the services. Some may go to the shrines on the 1st and 15th of each month and on the 1st and 15th of each month and on the occasions of rites or festivals (occasions of rites or festivals (matsurimatsuri), which ), which take place at fixed times during the year take place at fixed times during the year including a baby’s first visit to its tutelary kami including a baby’s first visit to its tutelary kami

soon after birth, soon after birth, the Shichi-go-san (Seven-Five-Three) festival on the Shichi-go-san (Seven-Five-Three) festival on

Nov 15th where three and seven year old girls and Nov 15th where three and seven year old girls and five year old boys go to pray for good health, andfive year old boys go to pray for good health, and

the traditional wedding ceremony. the traditional wedding ceremony.

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