SHINTOISM (SHINTO) 600 BC - 1945 AD. A religion of MAKOTO NO KOKORO (or MAGOKORO) TSUNAGARI AMATERASU AND KAMI MIRROR (major Symbol) SHINTO AND.

SHINTOISM (SHINTO) 600 BC - 1945 AD.

A religion of MAKOTO NO KOKORO (or MAGOKORO) TSUNAGARI AMATERASU AND KAMI MIRROR (major Symbol)

SHINTO AND THE JAPANESE SPIRIT- Japanese Miracle- A “Melting pot” civilization

Welcome to Japan

the sacred country of the

** Rising Sun** The Sacred Land of KAMI

JAPAN is slightly smaller than California

Total population: 127,417,244 (July 2005 est.) Ethnic groups

Japanese 99%, others 1% : Korean 511,262,

Chinese 244,241, Brazilian 182,232, Filipino 89,851,

other 237,914. Note: up to 230,000 Brazilians of Japanese origin

migrated to Japan in the 1990s to work in industries; some have returned to Brazil (2004)

Japanese religions

1. CHRISTIANS: 0.7% (about 1%): 1 to 2 million.

2. observe both Shinto and Buddhism: 84% 3. other religions: 16% (including Christianity and Confucianism)

Today, about 1 to 2 million Japanese are Christian (about 1% of Japan's population). Most of them live in Western

Japan where the missionaries' activities were greatest during the 16th century.

Historical development of Shintoism: three phases1) 6th century BC-6th Century AD: SHINTO’s rise

2) 6th century AD - 16th/19th century: Buddhism and Confucianism dominate, Shinto declines16th century: Christianity enters Japan provoking a reaction that will generate the return to Shinto as State Religion

3) 19th - mid-20th century: Shinto becomes again the official religion

(Progressive Revival of Shinto 16th-18th century)

Historical development of Shintoism: three phases1) 6th century BC-6th Century AD: development of SHINTO

660 B.C: Jimmu Tenno (first emperor of Japan) and rise of Shintoism 5 C.E: Japanese build the first national Shinto shrine at ISE.

285 C.E: Confucianism arrives in Japan 538-550 C.E : Buddhism introduced in Japan 595 C.E: Buddhism proclaimed state religion of Japan

6th century C.E: * Name Shinto given to the religion. (In confronting Confucianism and Buddhism, Shinto is given a name as a specific religion). * Confucianism and Buddhism flourish. Japan combines all the three religions as important components of Japanese identity.

712-720 C.E: completion of Shinto Chronicles.

2) 6th century AD - 19th century (Buddhism and Confucianism dominate, Shinto declines)

285 C.E: Confucianism arrives in Japan 538-550 C.E : Buddhism introduced in Japan 595 C.E: Buddhism proclaimed state religion of Japan 712-720 C.E: completion of Shinto Chronicles. 6th-16th century C.E: Buddhism dominates

974-1600: Buddhism and Chinese Culture dominate in Japan 16th-17th (and 3rd-6th) century: Confucianism dominates

16th century A.D.: Christianity introduced in Japan 1600-1700: Japanese leaders Confucianize JapanHEIAN Period (974-1185); KAMAKURA period (1185-1333); MUROMACHI period (1333-1600)

During these periods,Buddhism and Chinese Culture dominate in Japan. *TOKUGAWA period (1600-1868): Shinto revival 1949-1978:Communists suppress Confucianism and all other religions in China

3) 19th - mid-20th century: Shinto official religion (Progressive Revival of Shinto 16th-18th century)

3) 19th - mid-20th century: Shinto official religion Progressive Revival of Shinto 16th-18th century *TOKUGAWA period (1600-1868): Shinto revival 19th century: Revival of State Shinto under the

Meiji:Shintoism as the only official religion 20th century (December 1945): State Shinto and

the Emperor himself are abolished. The emperor loses his power to govern and the Shinto foundational myth of divine Emperor is destroyed.

21st century the rise of Asian Power (Japan, China, India)

1549 C.E: Francis Xavier, Catholic missionary, in Japan 1585 C.E: Matteo Ricci, Catholic Missionary, in China 1854 C.E: U.S. Commodore Perry forces Japan to trade with the

West 1868: Emperor MEIJI ascends to the throne and transforms Shinto

into the national religion, and put Shinto shrines and priests under government control. A campaign of persecution of Buddhism was launched: Their temples were closed, estates seized, and priests persecuted.

This State Shinto will come to an abrupt end in 1945. 1945: Japan surrenders in World War II; Shinto disestablished. On December 15, 1945, four months after the end of World War II,

U.S. General Douglas MacArthur, the supreme commander of the Allied forces of occupation, ordered the Japanese to abolish State Shinto. He imposed the separation between the Japanese State and Shintoism, and forced the Emperor to declare to the Nation that he was not divine.

• Thus in a statement that came as a terrible shock to the nation, the emperor denounced 1. The concept of divine emperor, and 2. The notion that the Japanese are a superior race destined to

rule the world.

SHINTOISM 600 BC - 1945 AD.

SHINTO THE RELIGION OF PURE HEART

Here are ten key points to know on Shinto:

SHINTO AND THE JAPANESE SPIRIT- Japanese Miracle- A “Melting pot” civilization

SHINTO THE RELIGION OF PURE HEART

Here are ten key points to know on Shinto:

1. The Essence of Shinto religion:MAGOKORO (Good Heart)TSUNAGARI (Harmony)

Shintoism has two fundamental characteristics:- A religion of MAKOTO NO KOKORO or MAGOKORO

(Heart of truth, pure heart, good heart)- A religion of TSUNAGARI (harmony)

2. Foundation- Shinto has no founder- No official scriptures, like Islam or Christianity

However, Origin: 7th/6th century B.C.

* Unification of Japanese people, beginning of imperial dynasty and Japanese civilization and history.

660 B.C: Jimmu Tenno (first emperor of Japan) And rise of Shintoism

5 C.E: Japanese build the first national Shinto shrine at ISE.

712-720 C.E: completion of Shinto Chronicles.

3. Sacred Texts:

3. The name SHINTO: SHEN-DAO (Chinese): way of the

Kami KAMI NO MICHI (ancient Japanese name)

4. The concept of God: KAMI: concept of God

4. AMATERASU: Central Kami

* Mount FUJI.* IZANAGI+IZANAMI, wife: first couple of Kami

5. JIMMU TENNO: first divine Emperor

IZANAGI>Amaterasu >Nihingi >Jimmu Tenno !

(line of emperors)

SHINTO CREATION MYTH IZANAGI (+IZANAMI, wife): first couple of Kami

=>Amaterasu (daughter of Izanagi) =>Ninigi (grand son of Amaterasu)=>Jimmu Tenno (great grand son of Ninigi;

first legendary human emperor)=> all other Japanese emperors

IZANAGI (husband) + IZANAMI(wife): first pair of Kami They descended from Heaven along a rainbow bridge and created the eight great islands of

Japan. Many kami were born to the couple But when the fire Kami was born, Izanami, the mother, was killed by the flames. IZANAGI washed his left eye: AMATERASU (SUN-Kami) is born washed his right eye: TSUKIYOMI (Moon-Kami) is born washed his nose: SUSANOO (Valiant Raging Male Kami)

Jimmu Tenno, the first emperor of Japan descended directly from Amaterasu Amaterasu sent her grand son NIHINGI to rule the earth

In the beginning times, the kami of the earth were unruly; so from time to time heavenly kami were sent down to pacify and subdue them.

Finally Amaterasu decided to send down her descendants to rule the land;

Ninigi descended to the peak of Mount Takachiko to inaugurate kami rule on earth.

Amaterasu gave Ninigi the 3 symbols of divine rule:1. The mirror2. The sword3. the myriad curved beads

6. KOJIKI and NIHON-GI or NIHON SHOKI: Sacred Texts

7. Land, People, Emperors: Sacred! 8. MAKOTO NO KOKORO: goal of the religion

9. JIN SHIN JYUTSU

(Traditional Medicine, among others like Shiatsu…)

Has its foundation in the KOJIKI Popularized in the West by MARY

BURMEISTER, a Japanese American who studied in Japan with master JIRO MURAI

Her residence: BURBANK, then ARIZONA

10. Twenty Key concepts and symbols:1. The mirror2. The sword3. the myriad curved beads

=> Symbols of divine rule; connected with the worship of Amaterasu

10. Twenty Key Concepts 4. MATSURI; 5. MISOGI; 6. ISE; 7. TORII; 8. SHIMENAWA; 9. JINJA; 10. NOH 11. Gagaku

10. Twenty Key Concepts

12. SHINTO 13. KAMI 14. KAMIKAZE 15. KAMIDANA 16. SAMURAI; 17. BUSHIDO; 18. KOJIKI 19. NIHON-SHOKI 20. MAKOTO NO KOKORO

Jinja: a Shinto shrineKamidana: a shelf or home altar for the veneration of KamiTorii: a gatelike structure that marks a Shinto sacred place.Shimenawa: Twisted rope, marking a sacred spotMisogi: a ritual of purification that involves standing under a

waterfallBushido: military devotion to a ruler, demanding loyalty,

duty, self-sacrifice; an ideal promoted by State Shinto

I. Foundation -------------------- - Shinto has no founder - No official scriptures

SACRED TEXTS 1. KOJIKI ("Records of Ancient Matters") 2. NIHON-GI, or NIHON SHOKI

("Chronicles of Japan") these two books are regarded in a sense as sacred books

of Shinto. They were written in AD. 712 and 720, respectively, and

are compilations of the oral traditions of ancient Shinto. But they are also books about the history, topography and literature of ancient Japan.

Historical development of Shintoism: three phases 538 A.D.: Buddhism enters into Japan 974-1600: Buddhism and Chinese Culture dominate in Japan:

HEIAN Period (974-1185) KAMAKURA period (1185-1333) MUROMACHI period (1333-1600)

During these periods,Buddhism and Chinese Culture dominate in Japan. Kukai (773-835) founds the Shingon school of Japanese Buddhism

*TOKUGAWA period (1600-1868): Shinto revival

I. The Name: 1. SHINTO or KAMI NO MICHI The term "SHINTO" sometimes is called "KAMI NO MICHI" SHINTO is a word taken over from Chinese (SHEN-DAO = "way

of spirits") to designate the indigenous religious practices of Japan

KAMI NO MICHI means "the way of the Gods"

II. DOCTRINECharacteristics of Japanese religion 1. The concept of the sacred/God: Kami (Nature of God) 2. The essence of religion (Magokoro) 3. The world and the Sacred Nation 4. cyclical approach to history: Shinto does not have the

concept of the last day; there is no end of the world or the history.

KAMI:SHINTO CONCEPT OF GOD Kami are the native Japanese deities At the core of Shinto are beliefs

in the mysterious creating and harmonizing power (Musubi) of Kami and in the truthful way or will (Makoto) of Kami

The nature of kami cannot be fully explained in words because kami transcends the cognitive faculty of man.

KAMI: CONCEPT OF GOD

In Shinto mythology, the physical world and the numerous deities who inhabit it were created by a primordial couple:

The most important KAMI are: 1. the moon goddess 2. A male earth god 3. And his sister, the sun goddess called AMATERASU.

MIRROR and its religious meaning Shinto shrine often display mirrors as symbols of

Amaterasu. The symbolic meaning of the mirror: The mirror is free from dust and capable of reflecting

images with natural clarity. Thus it symbolizes the Shinto ideals of purity and brilliance. For this reason too, Shinto shrines are traditionally located

in bright, sunny areas.

Mirror: crucial religious symbol In earliest myths, distressed by impertinence and

rudeness from her brother, Amaterasu hid in a cave.

Then the world fell in darkness. Other Kami gathered offerings, put on

entertainments, and attracted her with a mirror. Then Amaterasu restored light to the world. At that point the reformed earth god and his ally,

the Kami of Izumo prefecture, blessed the people of the islands of Japan.

A grand son of Amaterasu, having received training from the gods and blessings from the Izumo kami, was designated the divine ruler of the nation, and he established the chief shrine of Amaterasu on the seashore at ISE, with a mirror as her symbol.

Thus most Shinto shrines include a mirror, where devotees can honor the sun goddess.

The Shinto Pantheon is headed by AMATERASU, the kami of the sun,

Credited for having aided in the - creation of the country of Japan - and with being a progenitor of the royal

family.

Other Kami exist in profusion Some are associated with the natural forces of

wind, thunder, lightning, and rain; Some are thought to dwell in natural objects such

as mountains, rivers, trees, and rocks.

Some are ancestral spirits, And some dwell in certain animals such as cows

and foxes.

KAMI: concept of God Kami are the native Japanese deities At the core of Shinto are beliefs - in the mysterious creating and harmonizing power

(Musubi) of Kami - and in the truthful way or will (Makoto) of Kami

The nature of kami cannot be fully explained in words because kami transcends the cognitive faculty of man.

The essence of Religion:MAGOKORO (Good Heart)TSUNAGARI (Harmony)

Shintoism has two fundamental characteristics:- A religion of MAKOTO NO KOKORO (good or pure heart)- A religion of TSUNAGARI (harmony)

A religion of MAKOTO NO KOKORO: MAKOTO NO KOKORO (heart of Truth) or MAGOKORO (true heart): sincerity, pure heart Man is Kami's child and should behave as a man of true heart because KAMI is truth and responds to truthful prayers

A religion of TSUNAGARI:

- Kami are the native Japanese deities - Identity between the State and Religion - Like the Chinese, the Japanese value harmony in nature and

in human society. - Japan has borrowed many religious ideas and practices from

the chinese - cyclical approach to history: Shinto does not have the concept

of the last day; there is no end of the world or the history.

Shinto rituals- Japanese rituals seek communication with the Kami who order and animate the world.- The Japanese world is considered as a world of dynamic, delicately balanced, and often unpredictable forces.

1. Shamanic Rituals This ritual involves communicating with the Kami by falling into a

trance. The Kami is considered to possess the Shaman, or Miko, and to

animate her body, speaking through her mouth. While the Shaman falls into a trance, an interpreter is usually present in order to question the Kami when it "descends."

Shamanic ritual is often used in crisis situations to consult the Kami before taking important decisions:

- decision about war, - to understand the cause of misfortune, earthquake, epidemic, and

other natural disasters.

2. Matsuri - The word “Matsuri” means "celebration" - Matsuri are usually scheduled according to a regular

ritual calendar of yearly and monthly rites. They are done to ensure continued order in the cosmos and to call the Kami to descend to the shrine buildings.

- Matsuri are basically rites of hospitality (analogous to inviting honored guests to one's home). Kami are entertained, offered food and drink, and praised or flattered, and promises are made to them.

- The priests undergo purification rituals like bathing, eating special foods, and abstaining from sexual intercourse to prepare themselves for the presence of the kami. Then the kami who dwell in heaven, must be called down to the ceremony.

- Once present, the kami are given offerings of food and drink, such as rice, sake, or fish. Music, dancing, and praises are also offered.

Next the priest dips a branch of the sacred SAKAKI tree, a kind of evergreen, in holy water and waves it over the assembly, sprinkling all with the kami's blessings.

- Finally, a meal of the food offered to the kami is eaten by the priests and others.

4. Men and Women

Many shinto myths show that women were associated with: - blood (particularly birth blood), - chaos, - death, - and other polluting negative forces.Men by contrast were identify with - purity, - life, - and order

This dichotomy suggested that women were a source of pollution to men and should be kept under the strict control of males (as fathers, husbands, and sons).

Thus social and political power belonged exclusively to men, and women's activities were confined to the domestic sphere.

In this context, Japanese culture imposed on women extreme standards of chastity like those of Neo-Confucian China.

Yet women's association with mysterious phenomena like birth and death also rendered them religiously essential, and because only women were generally becoming Shamans capable of communicating with venerated dead ancestors and kami, they started to influence decisions.

(Although men can also become kami-possessed, from earliest times professional miko have been women).

A wife is a central religious figure in the Family shrine. She has considerable influence in clan affairs since she speaks for the Kami.