Shinto: The Way of the Shinto: The Way of the GodsGods

Global History I: Spiconardi Global History I: Spiconardi

Origins Origins • Animistic ReligionAnimistic Religion

• Indigenous to Japan Indigenous to Japan practiced nowhere practiced nowhere else in the worldelse in the world

• Evidence suggests the religion surfaced in Evidence suggests the religion surfaced in the 500s BCthe 500s BC

• Unnamed religion until introduction of Unnamed religion until introduction of Buddhism and Confucianism to Japan from Buddhism and Confucianism to Japan from ChinaChina

BeliefsBeliefs

• KamiKami gods or spirits gods or spirits– ““from food to rivers to rocks” from food to rivers to rocks” spirits spirits

that relate to nature and objectsthat relate to nature and objects•All things have spirits; both natural & All things have spirits; both natural &

manmade manmade

– Guardian Kami Guardian Kami Protectors of particular Protectors of particular areas and clansareas and clans

– Kami of Exceptional People Kami of Exceptional People former former emperorsemperors

BeliefsBeliefs

• Divine OriginDivine Origin– Japan and its islands are believed to be Japan and its islands are believed to be

the children of Izanagi-no-mikoto and the children of Izanagi-no-mikoto and Izanami-no-mikotoIzanami-no-mikoto

– The kami Amaterasu Omikami (Sun The kami Amaterasu Omikami (Sun goddess)is the ancestress of the imperial goddess)is the ancestress of the imperial family family

– Divine Right Divine Right All emperors were All emperors were descendants of Amaterasu (believed until descendants of Amaterasu (believed until US made Japan revoke that belief in 1946)US made Japan revoke that belief in 1946)

BeliefsBeliefs

• The Four AffirmationsThe Four Affirmations– Tradition and the familyTradition and the family:: The family is seen The family is seen

as the main preservers of traditionas the main preservers of tradition– Love of natureLove of nature:: Nature is sacred; to be in Nature is sacred; to be in

contact with nature is to be close to the gods. contact with nature is to be close to the gods. Natural objects are worshipped as sacred spirits. Natural objects are worshipped as sacred spirits.

– Purification:Purification: Followers of Shinto take baths, Followers of Shinto take baths, wash their hands, and rinse out their mouth wash their hands, and rinse out their mouth often. often. • Evil exists in the form of uncleanness Evil exists in the form of uncleanness

– Wounds in battle, contact with dead bodies, illness, etc.Wounds in battle, contact with dead bodies, illness, etc.

– ""Matsuri":Matsuri": The worship and honor given to the The worship and honor given to the Kami and ancestral spirits.Kami and ancestral spirits.

Impact on JapanImpact on Japan

• 110 million followers of some aspect of Shinto110 million followers of some aspect of Shinto– Only 3.4 million solely follow ShintoOnly 3.4 million solely follow Shinto– Most mix Buddhism and ShintoMost mix Buddhism and Shinto

• NationalismNationalism loyalty to and pride in one’s loyalty to and pride in one’s peoplepeople– Japanese were divinely chosen Japanese were divinely chosen – ““Land of the Rising Sun”Land of the Rising Sun”

• Artwork Artwork OrigamiOrigami “paper of the spirits” “paper of the spirits”– Out of respect for the tree spirit that gave its life to Out of respect for the tree spirit that gave its life to

make the paper, origami paper is never cut.make the paper, origami paper is never cut.