Shintoism interact in the kami or spirits

around you.
 Is a national religion and ethnic
 Tradionally made of wood and
religion of Japan
concrete but now most of gates
 They belief that "Human beings
are made of steel.
are basically good and has no
concept of original sins" -No
founder or god.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
 Japanese way of life and
traditions. 1. Shinto is the ways of the gods.
2. Originate pre-historic time from
Itsukushima Shrine
culture and religion.
 The most visited place in japan 3. It gives the biggest impact on the
 It’s important in Shintoism history of japan.
4. Religious beliefs and practice
Shintoists belief in kami or spirits called Shinto.
 Giving them good fortune and 5. No fixed dogma (set of beliefs),
prosperity. moral precepts (command in
behavior) or sacred writings.
 In return, Japanese need to
6. 6th century AD the name Shinto
peform rituals.
was created.
 Purification is a key concept in
7. Distinguish it from Buddhism and
ritual, every ritual they have a
Confucianism, which had been
water to cleansing purposes.
introduced from China.
Shrine dedicate to AMATERASU 8. Shinto was rapidly overshadowed
by Buddhism.
 Daughter of Susaso-o-no. 9. Buddhist priests became the
 Mikoto - Ancestor of the custodians of Shinto shrines and
Japanese imperial family introduced their own ornaments,
40% -practiced by the Japanese images, and ritual.
2006&2008 50%-80% -worship but not 10. End of the 8th and the beginning
identify them as a Shintoism. of the 9th centuries, the
celebrated Japanese teacher
Shintoist Kukai, or (posthumously) Kobo
 Followers of Shintoism. Daishi, established a doctrine
uniting Buddhism and Shinto
Symbol Torii Gate under the name of Ryobu Shinto
(Japanese, "the Shinto of two
 Most common symbol .
kinds").
 Entrance for the world of human
11. Buddhism dominated Shinto, and
and the world of spirits.
elements were adopted from
 They believe that once you enter Confucianism.
in this gate, it will prepare you to
 12. Ancient practice of Shinto proper  Shimotsomaki- the lower
virtually disappeared and was volume covers the 16th to 33rd
maintained only at a few great Emperors
shrines and in the imperial
palace, although the emperors
themselves had become Nihon Shoki/ Nihongi
Buddhists.
13. Shinto priests became fortune-  Records the descents of the
tellers and magicians. Yamato’s leaders of Japan from
14. Beginning in the 18th century the God. Sometimes Nihon
they revived Shintoism for being Shoki translated as the
national religion of teachings. “Chronicles of Japan”
15. Successiom of notable scholars,
including Mabuchi, Motoori
Norinaga, and Hirata Atsutane. WORSHIP AND OBSERVANCE
Motivated (reason) nationalistic  Unlike other religion Shintoism
sentiments. has no weekly service instead,
people visit shrine at their own
service.
SACRED SCRIPTURES
Kojiki composed of three parts:
SHINTO ROTES PASSAGE
1st- The age of Kami- Which narrates
the mythology  Hatsumiyamairi- it is the
traditional rites of passage in
2nd and 3rd – Discuss the imperial family Japan for newborns.
up to death of the 33rd ruler, Empress
 Shichi-go-san (7-5-3) - it is the
Suiko
day of prayer for the healthy
The 3rd book- Is concerned mainly with growth of young children. The
revolts and love stories of successive boys and girls aged 3, boys aged
rulers intertwined in a song-story format. 5 and girls aged 7 visit a shinto
shrine with their parents to give
Kojiki means “The ancient matter” also thanks for the protection provided
sometimes read as “Furokotofumi” by the Kami.
 Adult's Day- those Japanese
who had their 20th birthday in the
3 parts of kojiki previous year attend a shrine to
 Kamitsamuki -also known as give thanks or express the
the kamiyo no Maki gratitude to the kami.
 Nakatsumaki- begins with the  Wedding rites- San san ku do
conquest of Jimmu means 3, 3, 9 and that is the
nuptial cups.
  Funeral rites- Sosai is the TYPES OF WORSHIP
funeral practices of Shintoism,
and largely developed from They may worship at home, at Shinto
Buddhist funeral rites. shrines, and during festivals.

At home (kamidana)
 kamidana or kami shelf
RITUAL PURIFICATION (meditative
 perform rituals: purification,
practices)
offertory, prayers
MISOGI OR ABLUTIONS- Washing or
At Shinto Shrines
cleansing
 Cerimonial worship
 Ritual purification in which
 Prohibited: sick wounded, or in
washing the entire body.
mourning. It is considered as
 Funeral ceremonies *to cleanse
impure.
themselves to the contamination
 Shrine visits usually take the
of dead bodies should wear
following steps:
kimono (women) and loin cloth
for (men) with their head bands.
1. Advised to be behave respectfully
and calmly.
Performed in different ways:
2. Rinse both hands in temizu
1. Wasing body in combination of
(fountain) then transfer some
water and salt
water to rinse mouth and spit
2. Exposing body to ice-cold water
beside the fountain.
3. Taking bath in sacred waterfalls,
3. Throw a coin at the offering upon
lakes and rivers
entering the hall
4. Bow deeply twice, clap twice, and
HARAI OR EXORCISM-Demonic
bow deeply again
Possession
5. Use the gong and pray.
 Purification of body and spirits
 Performed by priest by swinging MAGICAL CHARMS AND AMULETS
purification wand (Orusa) over
 Provide protection and source of
the people or object that
magic
exorcised.
 Omamori- provides protection
and may luck
IMI OR ABSTENTIONS-Declining to
vote  Shimpu- (sacred ticket) private
amulets, often small and can be
 performed against impurity
worn by person which placed in
 Offering and dedication of rice,
contact with the body; for close
rice wine and other foods to the
supervision of deity.
deities; music and dance and
prayers.
SEASONAL FESTIVAL MATSURI
 Usually held once a year
celebrated in shrines.
 Last only for several days.
  Holding kami through dashi or the population. * Shinto promotes
decorated floats with lively the idea of a natural order or the
sounds on parade. way things should be. This idea is
called Kannagara. This includes
GREAT PURIFICATION what is considered the right way
 Held in shrines with priests. to live and focuses on sincerity,
 June to December honesty, and purity. *
 Priest waving his cleansing wand Amenominakanushi is the
over the people, who rub dolls on concept of the very first Kami to
their bodies- symbolizes
exist before time, sort of like a
transferring impurities to dolls.
creator, and can be translated as
BELIEFS AND DOCTRINES the heavenly ancestral god of the
originating heart of the universe.
 Shintoism has no founder, no  The phrase Yaoyorozu (meaning
official sacred scriptures, and no 8,000,000) is used to express the
concept of afterlife. innumerable gods in Japan.
 The core belief at the heart of
Shinto is in kami: formless spirits
that animate anything of CONCEPT OF PURE AND IMPURE
greatness. For ease of  The most important concept in
understanding, kami are Shintoism is PURITY.
sometimes defined as deities or  Very important in Shintoism to
gods, but this definition is maintain is physical, external,
incorrect. Shinto kami are not and material purity.
higher powers or supreme  Shintoism strongly disapproved
beings, and they do not dictate of the pollution of blood. For
right and wrong. Kami are example: women who menstruate
considered amoral, and they do / women after child birth on some
not necessarily punish or reward. remote areas in japan.
For example, a tsunami has a  A fore mentioned women are
kami, but being struck by a prohibited from living together
tsunami is not considered a with their family and sharing
punishment from an angered meals with them.
kami. Nevertheless, kami are  They built houses also called
thought to wield power and “menstruation houses” (TAYA)
ability. In Shinto, it is important to where women who have their
placate kami through rites and period or who have recently given
rituals birth are expected to live alone
 t motivates people to accept life and cook their own food.
as it is and expect that life will be  Visitations by men were
filled with blessings. * Well, it’s prohibited.
the largest religion in Japan  In general, the practice of
practiced by an estimated 80% of purification in Shintoism focuses
 on removal of physical or external SUBDIVISIONS
pollution, and nothing to do with
There are three main types of shintoism:
spiritual purification.
 The concept of “sin” was simply Jinja Shrine
of a physical or external nature
which can easily be purified with  Most visited in japan.
the necessary rituals.  1,000 meters above sea level.
 Illness cause by natural powers is  When entering Shrine remember
also considered as “sins” which to bow first and step with your left
made kami to dislike them. for foot before praying you must to
example : struck by the wash your hands.
thunderbolts / bitten by an insect / Kyoha Shrine
having sexual relations with one’s
parent or one’s child / having  Sect Shinto started in the 19th
sexual relations with animals. Century and includes 13 major
 To COMPENSATE. For independent sects which are
committing the sins mentioned a officially recognised by the
while ago, they are required to Japanese governement.
make offering to the deities 1. Fusokyô (1882)
(kato1973) In Shintoism DEATH 2. Izumo Oyashirokyô (1882)
is considered as the worst form of 3. Jikkokyô (1882)
impurity. 4. Konkokyô (1900)
 DEAD BODY is the most impure 5. Kurozumikyô (1876)
thing after funeral, all the family 6. Misogikyô (1894)
members do a ritual bathing in 7. Ontakekyô, formerly known as
the river. They believed that Mitakekyô (1882)
“Shinto or kami” greatly dislike 8. Shinrikô (1894)
death. The people who have 9. Shinshukyô (1882)
contact with the dead are 10. Shinto Shusei-ha (1876)
prohibited from participating in 11. Shinto Taikyô,known before
the rites performed at the shrines, World War II simply as -Shinto
they are considered as impure for (1886)
30 days. Shintoist believed that 12. Taiseikyô (1882)
death is continuation of life so 13. Tenrikyô (1908)
that if one dies, he or she will Minzoku Shrine
continue to receive the blessing
of the kami.  Shinto influences many of the
rites of passage celebrated in
Japan, sect Shinto followers
worship a huge array of 'kami'
(gods or spirits) which personify
all aspects of nature.
  Shintoism is declared as a state
religion of Japan in 1868, but it
Confucianism
was abolished by the Allied
 Was formed in 500 B.C.E Powers when Japan got defeated
 Confucius believed we should in World War II Vehicle for
focus on doing the right thing Patriotism.
rather than heaven or the afterlife  Shintoism provides the Japanese
people the pride of believing that
they came from the deities and
Mount Hua Sect that their rulers have descended
from heaven.
 Also known as the Huashan  The Japanese government
Sect played a crucial role in instilling a
 it is a fictional arts sect, sense of patriotism to its people.
mentioned in several works  They allegedly leave out the
wicked things that the Japanese
soldiers did to innocent people or
Purification Sects other nationalities.
 Shinshūkyō (Divine Learning  With the belief that they came
Religion) from kami, it strengthens the
 Misogikyō (Purification Religion). people's sense of patriotism
 It also teaches them that they are
Faith healing Sects the chosen people and they will
always prevail with the help of
 Attempts to cure a wide range of
kami. They just have to do some
ailments primarily through
rituals so that the kami will be
personal prayer and intercessory
appeased.
prayer, sometimes augmented by
faith-based rituals.  In 20th century, the Japanese
government required the
Japanese people to participate in
Shinto ceremonies.
SELECTED ISSUES OF SHINTOISM
 It also led to the persecution of
 Shintoism is a religion that was non Shinto practitioners in Japan.
able to coexist with Buddhism  Shintoism has a high regard for
and Confucianism. nature, since the early
 Shintoism got its system of ethics practitioners of Shintoism saw
and the value of ancestor worship that the nature gave them
from Confucianism. everything they needed.
 Shrine visits of the Prime  They showed their gratitude by
Ministers of Japan is an aspect of worshipping the kami in natural
Shintoism. shrines.
 The earliest shrines were natural  Rituals include going to the Main
ones, such as mountains, trees, sanctuary also called as Honden
rocks, springs, and other natural which is considered as the
objects. It was only later that they central building which is believed
built actual shrines. that the kami reside within its
 Even though Japan is already deepest and darkest recessed
considered a highly-industrialized where the priests make offerings
nation, we can still see trees in twice a day. In the morning and
cities Shrine Visits of Prime evening.
Ministers.  For neighboring countries such
 Shrine visits is being made by as Korea and China see the
important people in Japan. shrine visits of Prime Ministers as
 This is being done to show controversial because it appears
respect to people who died in the as if the Prime Minister is
service. honoring the people who abused
 The spirits of the people who their power and the people of
died in Meiji Restoration, Korea and China. Such as their
Satsuma Rebellion, First Sino- comfort women including the
Japanese War, Second Sino- Philippines.
Japanese War, and World War I  But the Japanese people hardly
and II. thought about it because it was
excluded in their textbooks.