Shinto

Shinto
Name	Shinto
Native name	神道
Caption	The torii gate at Itsukushima Shrine in Hiroshima Prefecture
Type	Ethnic religion
Main classification	Japanese religion
Founder	Indigenous development
Founded date	Prehistoric Yayoi period
Number of followers	Estimated 70-80% of Japanese population
Scripture	Kojiki, Nihon Shoki
Deities	Kami
Headquarters	No central authority; individual shrines
Area	Primarily Japan

Shinto. Often translated as "the way of the kami," it is the indigenous ethnic religion of Japan. It centers on ritual practices and a deep connection to the Japanese archipelago, its nature, and ancestral spirits. Unlike many global religions, it has no single founder, central sacred text, or fixed dogma, evolving organically from Japanese prehistory.

Etymology and terminology

The term is derived from the Chinese characters *shén* (神, spirit) and *dào* (道, way), read in Japanese as *kami* and *michi* respectively. It was adopted around the 6th century to distinguish the native tradition from the newly arrived Buddhism, then known as *Butsudo*. The earliest written appearances are in works like the Nihon Shoki, compiled in the 8th century under the Emperor Tenmu. The core concept is the worship of *kami*, a term encompassing deities, spirits of nature, and venerated ancestors.

Beliefs and cosmology

Central to the belief system is the veneration of *kami*, which inhabit natural phenomena like Mount Fuji, rivers, trees, and storms, as well as charismatic humans and ancestral spirits. The cosmos is not seen as a creation by a supreme deity but as a generative process described in myths from the Kojiki. Important narratives involve deities like Amaterasu, the sun goddess enshrined at Ise Grand Shrine, and her brother Susanoo-no-Mikoto. Concepts of purity (*kegare*) and harmony are paramount, with an emphasis on gratitude and living in accord with the natural world. There is no strong doctrine of an afterlife, focusing instead on communal memory and legacy.

Practices and rituals

Ritual practice, overseen by priests (*kannushi*), is more emphasized than belief. Key rituals include purification (*harae*), prayers (*norito*), and offerings of food, drink, or symbolic items at altars. Major life events are marked by ceremonies such as *Miyamairi* for newborns and traditional weddings at shrines. Seasonal festivals (*matsuri*) like Gion Matsuri in Kyoto involve processions, music, and dance to entertain the *kami*. Personal devotion includes practices like washing hands at a *temizuya* and making a monetary offering at the *saisen-bako*.

Shrines and sacred sites

The primary places of worship are shrines (*jinja*), characterized by entrance gates called *torii*. The architectural style of the inner sanctuary (*honden*) varies, with prominent examples including the distinctive *shinmei-zukuri* of Ise Grand Shrine and the ornate *gongen-zukuri* of Nikkō Tōshō-gū. The surrounding sacred area is often demarcated by a *shimenawa* rope. Major shrine complexes, such as Izumo-taisha in Shimane Prefecture and Meiji Shrine in Tokyo, serve as important cultural and spiritual centers. Natural sites like Mount Ontake are also revered as objects of worship.

History and development

Its origins lie in the animistic practices of the Jōmon and Yayoi periods. The formalization began with the codification of myths in the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki during the Asuka period and Nara period, partly to legitimize the imperial line descended from Amaterasu. A long period of syncretism with Buddhism followed, known as *shinbutsu-shūgō*. During the Meiji Restoration, the government instituted State Shinto, separating it from Buddhism and elevating it to a national cult centered on the emperor, a policy dismantled after World War II by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers.

Shinto in contemporary society

Today, it exists as a diverse set of practices and institutions, with the majority of Japanese people participating in rituals as a cultural tradition. It is constitutionally separate from the state, coordinated loosely by bodies like the Association of Shinto Shrines. Its influence permeates Japanese culture, from the New Year's shrine visit (*Hatsumōde*) to festivals and popular media. Various "Sect Shinto" groups, such as Tenrikyo and Konkokyo, operate as distinct religions. It continues to adapt, engaging with contemporary issues like environmentalism while maintaining its deep connection to Japanese history and identity.

Category:Shinto Category:Religion in Japan Category:Indigenous religions