Shinto Summary Sheet
Key Terms
Kami: Shinto gods that originate from ancestral spirits.
Tsumi: pollution/sin/impurity ;can be associated with death or bad things.
Kenkai: Visible World.
Yukai: Invisible World.
Misogi: Indicates purification rituals in general/ purification rituals involving water
Haraigushi: A wand used by priests to purify things
Shubatsu: A ritual where salt is sprinkled on objects to purify it/them.
Izanagi, Izanami: brother (Izanagi) and sister (Izanami) Kami who created Japan
Torii: Traditional japanese gate used to mark the entrance to a sacred place. Most commonly
associated symbol involving Shinto
Shinto
● Shinto was Japan’s state religion until 1946, after World War II.
● Shinto is not seen strictly as a religion anymore, but more as a way of life for all
Japanese people
○ It is allowed to practice another religion along with Shinto
○ There is no founder
○ There is no “God”
○ There are no commandments, but it still teaches ethical lessons
○ There is no canonical scripture
● Shinto religious texts are collections of ancient myths and teaching originally passed
down orally through the generations
a Kojiki, or the “Record of Ancient Matters” (712 CE)
b Nihon-gi, or the “Chronicles of Japan” (720 CE)
● Shinto and the royal lineage of Japan, such as the emperor, were closely tied together
Beliefs
● Shinto has no moral ‘absolutes,’ and every act of good or evil is circumstantial
● Shinto originated with several ancient values that are no longer followed today
○ Women were subordinate to men
○ Imperfect children could be discarded
● Everyone is born pure. It is later that we are infected by Tsumi.
○ Things that are considered ‘bad’ or ‘evil’, are things that:
■ disturb Kami
■ disturb worship of Kami
■ disrupt the harmony of the world
■ disrupt the natural world
■ disrupt the social order
● Shinto constantly believes in purification and pleasing their Kami. There are many
festivals/ceremonies/rituals for purification and interacting with Kami.
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Correct and longer performances of festivals/ceremonies/rituals takes priority
over everything else that they believe. The longer it is, the more religious it is.
Viewers are also considered participating in festivals/ceremonies/rituals.
Death is seen as impure. Cemeteries are not near Shinto shrines, and Buddhists handle
funerals.
Faith Days
● In Shinto, there are days of worship for three age groups: newborns, children and adults
● Hatsumiyamairi is the day of worship for newborns, which takes place on the 32nd or
33rd day, depending if the child is male or female
● Shichigosan is the day of worship for children (aged 3-5 and 3-7 depending on gender),
who are taken by their parents to pay respect to the kami
● Seijin Shiki happens once a year, where people who have turned 20 in the past year pay
respects to the kami
Kami
● Kami are created the same way as humans
● Humans and Kami live in the same dimension. Kamis are in the Yukai, and humans are
in the Kenkai.
● Izanagi (M) and Izanami (F) are the first two Kami who formed out of chaos
○ Izanagi and Izanami were brother and sister
● Izanagi and Izanami formed the island of Japan by stabbing a jeweled spear into the
ocean
● Izanagi and Izanami were the first two who explored sexual activities and had many
children that were Kami, such as Amaterasu and Susanoo
● Amaterasu is the Sun Goddess
● Susanoo is the Kami of Wind and Storms
Impact
● Shinto has impacted Japanese culture and the perception of Japan despite the fact that
it has not been Japan’s state religion since 1946
● Many anime and manga borrow from the Shinto religion
● Kami and the Yukai are often used in anime and manga
● Nowadays, Japan is somewhat stereotyped in western culture due to the impact of
Shinto