Practices, Ceremonies, Rituals and Festivals

PRACTICES
Shinto Practices

What is a Religious Practice?
The act of rehearsing a religion’s traditional, moral and
ethical beliefs.
 Shinto practices commemorate kami
 Take place mostly in Shrines
 Ties in and incorporates rituals
 Major theme: purification (the act of removing
uncleanliness to show devotion to the kami)
Omairi

 Shinto’s main religious
practice
 Omairi means
“participation”
 Done by visiting Shrines
 Way of paying respect to
kami
Harae

 Rite of ritual purification (major theme in Shinto
religion)
 Ceremony of offerings and prayers of many forms
Misogi

 Means water purification
 Practice of purification
 Done whilst reciting prayers
(defined to this particular
practice)
 Mostly performed in Shrines or
natural settings
Kagura

 Ancient Shinto dance
 Means “seat of the
kami”
 Aim is to entertain the
kami
 Involves a lion mask as
image and presence of
deity
Test Yourself

1. What is a major theme in Shinto practices?
2. What is the meaning of Omairi?
3. Which practice involves an Ancient Shinto dance
being performed?
4. What are the aim of practices?
5. Where do they mostly take place?
Test Yourself Answers

1. What is a major theme in Shinto practices?
Purification
2. What is the meaning of Omairi? Participation
3. Which practice involves an Ancient Shinto dance
being performed? Kagura
4. What are the aim of practices? To commemorate the
kami
5. Where do they mostly take place? Shrines

CEREMONIES
Shinto Ceremonies

What are Religious Ceremonies?
Religious ceremonies is a formal religious occasion, typically
celebrating a particular event of great significance
 Spirituality of Shinto revealed through ceremonies
 Remained unchanged for thousands of years
 Allow adherents to celebrate and give gratitude in order to
live joyful and productive lives as part of Divine Nature
 Enhances connection with the kami
 Cover significant life events
 Performed by Shinto priests
Kito (Prayer
Ceremonies)

 Cover a range of personal and social concerns
 Builds closer connection with the kami
Jensei Girei (Life Cycle
Rites)

 HATSUMIYAMAIRI 1st shrine visit of a newborn
baby
 SHICHI-GO-SAN MAIRI ceremony for boys ages 3
and 5 and girls ages 3 and 7 to pray for continued
health and safe growth and development
 SEIJINSHIKI coming of age rite (age 20)
 SHINZEN KEKKON SHIKI Wedding Ceremony

Coming of Age
Ceremony

 Most significant ceremony in Shinto religion
 Initiates individuals, welcoming them into adult
Japanese society
 Represents an important milestone
Shinto Ceremonies in
Action

The following link below shows an example of a Shinto
ceremony.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R__jKqJcUso
Watch carefully and note any distinctive features you
see.
Test Yourself

1. What is the major aim of ceremonies?
2. What is revealed through these ceremonies?
3. Name three major ceremonies in the Shinto
Religion.
4. Name the most significant Shinto ceremony.
5. Who are they conducted by?
Test Yourself Answers

1. What is the major aim of ceremonies? Enhances
connection with kami
2. What is revealed through these ceremonies?
Spirituality of Shinto
3. Name three major ceremonies in the Shinto
Religion. *Can be any of the ones mentioned above*
4. Name the most significant Shinto ceremony. Coming
of Age Ceremony
5. Who are they conducted by? Shinto Priests

RITUALS
Shinto Rituals

What are Religious Rituals?
Religious rituals consist of a series of actions performed
according to traditional order
 Taking part in rituals beings Shinto unites
community
 Entertain the Kami and people
 Communication with the kami takes place here
 Most common type involve purification; life cycle
rituals also prominent themes
Shinto Rituals cont.

Rituals examined on number of levels including:
 Jinja Shinto- takes place at Shrines
 Minzoku Shinto- relates to folk religion in Japan
 Koshitsu Shinto- practiced at national level
Refer to the “Shinto Practices” slides for specific rituals
carried out by Shinto adherents
Entering the Shrine

1.
2.
3.
4.
Rinsing of mouths and washing of hands
Worshippers proceed to Haiden (prayer hall)
Clap their hands 2 times (alerts kami)
Devotees bow deeply in respect of kami
Activity:

Place the following images in order in which Shinto
adherents enter shrines.
Answers

1.
3.
2.
4.

FESTIVALS
“Matsuri”
Shinto Festivals

What are Religious Festivals?
Religious festivals are days or periods of celebration to
commemorate something in particular
 Vary from community to community
 Features dancers, boats and bonfires
 Typically involve food offerings, procession of kami
in palanquins and ritual prayers
 Includes visits to local shrines
Oshogatsu-New Year

 A large festival with large attendance
 Involves people thinking about the kami and making
resolutions for New Year
Sejin Shiki-Adults Day

 Coming of Age celebration
Haru Matsuri- Spring
Festival

 Festival surrounding the planting of crops
 Spring is a time of many festivities
 Yellow and red are typically worn (to represent
presence of the kami in Spring)
Aki Matsuri- Autumn
Festival

 A time to thank the kami for a good harvest
 Blue and red are typically worn (to represent the
presence of the kami in Autumn)
Shichigosan

 This is when parents give thanks and appreciation
for the life of their children
 Pray for their futures
 Visit the local Shrine
Rei-Sai

 Annual festival
 Celebrated on day relevant to Shrine in which it
takes place
 White is usually worn by adherents on this day
Activity:

As a class place the following images in the most
appropriate slide.
1.
2.

3.
4.
5.
6.
Answers

1.Haru-Matsuri
2. Sejin Shiki
3. Shichigosan
4. Oshogatsu
5. Rei-Sai
6. Aki Matsuri