SHINTO
DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
Due to the nature of Shinto practice and belief it is hard to get a
very accurate estimate of adherents
Estimates range from 2.8 - 3.2 million followers to 40% of
Japanese adults which would equal 50 million, and some claim
86% of Japanese adults which would place the number at 107
million.
There are estimates of 1000 followers in North America … as
there is no main text to outline practices one must have intimate
knowledge of Japanese culture to actively practice Shinto.
ORIGIN
Shinto is the native spiritual practice of Japan
Until the introduction of Buddhism (in 552 C.E.) to Japan it had
no real name.
Buddhism and Confucianism have heavily influenced Shinto.
The Word “Shinto” Means way of the Gods or alternately Way of
Kami
A SHINTO PRIEST
BASIC BELIEFS
Shintoist believe in kami . A kami is a spirit which can be of
ancestors, gods, revered warriors, leaders, forces of nature,
demons, and all but the last Japanese Emperor.
Most Kami protect people and sustain nature.
The most revered of these Kami is Amaterasu Omikami, the
sun goddess, who is the ancestor of the Imperial family of
Japan. The shrine to her is in the town Ise.
AMATERASU OMIKAMI’S
SHRINE AT ISE
BELIEFS CONTINUED ...
Shinto beliefs state that certain deeds, one might term
evil, lead the human min and spirit towards impurity
which has negative effects on an individuals fortune and
well being.
Consequently, purity is very important in Shinto and
most rituals performed by priest and laymen is t attain a
state of ritual purity to appeal to angry or disturbed
Kami.
FOUR AFFIRMATIONS OF SHINTO
These four beliefs form the philosophical core of Shinto.
Tradition and the family: The family is how traditions are passed on and most
shinto celebrations revolve around the family ) birth, marriage, and death
Love of nature: Nature is sacred and to be close to nature I to be close to the gods.
Physical cleanliness: Keep your body clean. Hygiene is holy
"Matsuri":Honor the gods and other spirits (i.e. ancestors)
A TRADITIONAL SHINTO
WEDDING PROCESSION
CREATION STORY
After creating the first land out of nothing by stirring up the
oceans with a spear, two Kami, Izanagi-no-mikoto and Izanamino-mikoto, are said to have conceived and given birth to the
Japanese Islands.
The first children turned out badly and were exiled, the second
time, Izanami gave birth to the “8 perfect islands” of Japan.
Their subsequent children became the kami/respective deities for
the Clans of Japan.
IZANAGI-NO-MIKOTO & IZANAMI-NOMIKOTO STIRRING THE OCEAN.
RITUALS
As mentioned before purity rituals are very important in Shinto.
Priests preside over purification ceremonies for events such as the
ground breaking: According to tradition, before a Japanese car
factory can be built abroad a Shinto priest must perform a
purification ceremony.
The construction of most buildings in Japan is preceded by a
Shinto Groundbreaking ceremony
SHINTO GROUNDBREAKING
CEREMONY
PERSON PURITY RITUALS
Personal purity rituals are refered to as misogi.
Misogi can be performed by the layman either
with ritual prayers recited while immersing one’s
self in any body of cold water or just by standing
under a waterfall.
MISOGI – ANCIENT AND MODERN
THE AFTER LIFE
Every child born in Japan is added to the records of their local shrine
regardless of religious affiliation. This list guarantees that when the individual
dies they will become a family kami (a.k.a. ujigami) and join their ancestors
and local community members who have passed before them.
Those who die without their name on the list are called water children and
become restless and sometimes angry ghosts, that make trouble for the living.
Names can be added to the list later in life and without consent of the
individual.
EMPEROR HIROHITO’S TRADITIONAL
SHINTO FUNERAL PROCESSION
EVERYDAY PRACTICE
Anyone can pray at a Shinto Shrine regardless of belief.
Walk to the Torii (chapel) and bow before entering.
Wash your hands left first, then right, sometimes your feet, then rinse your mouth
but don’t spit water back into the basin.
If there is a bell you can ring it before your prayers; its customary to leave a small
donation usually @ 5-10 yen;
normally there 2 bows, then 2 claps. On the second clap you keep you hands
together in front of your heart give a closing bow after your prayers.
SHINTO PRIESTS, PRAYERS, AND
SHRINE
FOUR TYPES OF SHINTO
PRACTICE
Jinja (a.k.a Shrine) Shinto: This is the original orthodox form of Shinto, most
shrines are members of the Jinja Honcho (the Association of Shinto Shrines).
Koshitsu Shinto (The Shinto of the Imperial House): Very similar to Shrine
Shinto this form is only practiced by the Emperor. Most important in this form is
the ritual offerings to the Gods
Kyoha (Sectarian) Shinto (a.k.a Shuha Shinto): 13 Sect make up thi type of
Shinto each sect has it’s own beliefs some bordering on Monotheism
Minzoku (Folk) Shinto: While this isn’t a formally recognized separate Shinto
tradition it represents the local, rural and village Shinto traditions which vary by
region. Villages choose a resident who is responsible for honoring the local gods.
IMPORTANT TEXTS
While there is no central “holy book” definitively describing Shinto tradition,
there are a few widely revered ad respected texts:
The Kojiki (Record of Ancient Matters)
The Rokkokushi (Six National Histories)
The Shoku Nihongi and its Nihon Shoki (Continuing Chronicles of Japan)
The Jinno Shotoki (Shinto and Japanese politics and history) written in the
14th century
THE KOJIKI – RECORD OF
ANCIENT MATTERS
INTERESTING SHINTO FACTS
Being an active Shintoist does not prevent one from belief in any other
religion. (This is common to many Asian regions where pantheism or
polytheism was common.)
Separation of Shinto from the state and political life did not happen until
World War II. The last Emperor was forced by the United States military
to renounce his divinity as a part of surrender.
Shinto has no real founder, no written scriptures, no body of religious law,
and a loose organization of priests.
The concept of Kami permeates Japanese popular culture