Shinto
SLMS/09
Shinto is the traditional native religion of Japan. It is considered something of an animist religion, and has been in existence for more than 2,500 years. Today, most Japanese practice both Shinto and Buddhism — since Shinto focuses on the
everyday and fitting into this world, while Buddhism focuses
on the afterlife.
Basic Shinto Beliefs
History of Shinto
•Shinto seems to have originated
around 500 BCE — though many
ideas pre-date that era.
•It seems to combine a love of
nature with shamanistic beliefs. It’s name
comes from the Chinese “shin tao”, or
“Way of the Gods”.
•Unlike most other world religions, Shinto
has no founder, no formal scriptures, no
religious law, and a rather informal
priesthood.
Birth of Shinto
•Shinto legend has it that the
divine couple Izanagi-nomikoto and Izanami-no-mikoto
gave birth to the Japanese islands.
•Their children became the dieties of the
major Japanese clans. Amaterasu Omikami
(Sun Goddess) was one of their daughters,
and she became the ancestor of the
Imperial family. She is regarded as the
chief diety, and as such, the Japanese
emperor was always seen as divine.
•Likewise, the characters that make up the
name ‘Japan’ mean “sun-origin”. Thus the
Japanese flag has a large red circle on it
signifying the sun.
•”Kami” are gods or spirits. In Shinto, kami
exist in both living and non-living things,
and generally take 4 forms:
-Those related to natural objects and
creatures (rivers, rocks, animals)
-Guardian kami of particular areas or
clans
-Exceptional people (Emperors, Buddha)
-Abstract creative forces
•Generally kami are seen as
benign forces that help,
sustain and guide people.
They are not transcendent
deities who have significant
powers, like in Greek or
Indian tradition. Kami are close to
humanity, living in the same world,
thinking as humans do.
•Believers revere kami’s creative or harmonizing powers. They aspire to have sincerity or a true heart. This trueness of heart is
regarded as the way of Kami.
•All of humanity is regarded as kami’s
child. Thus all human life and human nature
is sacred.
•Ancestors are to be deeply revered and
worshipped because the deceased generally become kami.
•Morality is based upon that which is beneficial to the group.
Practices of Shinto
Impurity & Purification
•There are 4 “affirmations” of the Shinto
spirit.
-Tradition and the family
-Respect of nature
-Physical cleanliness or purity
-”Matsuri” or festival
•In the complete absence of any religious
dogma or commandments, these
affirmations are designed to help followers
live a simple and harmonious life with
people and nature. Such harmony is the
goal of Shintoism.
•Each Shinto shrine is dedicated
to a specific kami who has a divine personality. Shrines typically have a Torii, or gateway
through which people enter.
Often there are a pair of stone
guardian dogs (Foo dogs in
Chinese, or Koma inu in Japanese). There
are specific ritual ceremonies, dances and
prayers offered to the kami at the shrines.
•In Shinto, wrong deeds are considered impure. Impurities make kami restless and
dissatisfied, and therefore, people should
want to purify themselves both for the
sake of placating kami, but also for one’s
own peace of mind and good fortune.
•There are many elaborate Japanese rituals
that have been designed for the
purposes of purification. Many
personal purifications involve
actual water cleansing, while
others merely involve prayers or
the spreading of salt or rice.
Shinto & Buddhism
•Shinto and Buddhism, while very different
religions, find co-existence in Japan. About
84% of the Japanese population follow
both religions.
•Both religions share an optimism about
human nature, and in Shinto, the Buddha is
regarded as kami, while in Buddhism, kami
are regarded as manifestations of
various Buddhas.
•With Shinto, the Japanese focus
on the everyday, while with Buddhism, they are able to focus on
the afterlife. Generally Shinto
priests preside over Japanese marriages,
while Buddhist priests officiate at funerals.
Impact of Shinto
•Shintoists generally follow the code of
Confucianism — a Chinese import of the 7th
& 8th centuries. Confucianism fits nicely
with the Shinto belief in the benefit of the
group, and it has a similar societal impact
in Japan to that of China.
•Shinto ceremonies include seasonal celebrations of spring planting and fall harvest
as well as special anniversaries.
•Sumo wrestlers purify the
wrestling ring with salt before
a bout to follow Shinto purification tradition.
•Several traditional Japanese arts have
their roots in Shinto. Garden design, flower
arranging, and traditional architecture all
reflect Shinto tradition.
•Many Japanese customs or practices reflect Shinto, such as the emphasis on
proper greetings or respectful phrases, the
use of wooden chopsticks, and the removal
of shoes before entering a building.
•Modern day Japanese anime & manga
draw inspiration from Shinto stories and
tradition.
AP World History
Shinto
1. How old is Shinto?
2. How can most Japanese practice both
Shinto and Buddhism?
Name ___________________________________
8. What are “kami”? What forms do they
take?
a.
b.
c.
d.
3. When did Shinto originate?
9. Describe kami.
4. What does Shinto combine? And where
does its name come from?
10. How do Shintoists view…
a. Human life?
b. Ancestors?
5. How is Shinto different from other world
religions?
c. Morality?
11. What are the 4 affirmations of the Shinto
spirit?
6. What influences has Amaterasu Omikami
a.
had on Japan?
b.
c.
7. Where does the name Japan come from?
How is it represented?
d.
12. What are these affirmations designed to
do?
13. Describe Shinto shrines.
16. How do Shinto & Buddhism coexist in
Japan?
17. How were Confucian ideas merged into
Shinto?
14. What creates impurity? Why should people purify themselves?
18. What aspects of Japanese art & society
reflect Shinto traditions?
15. What are some purification rituals?
Analysis:
19. Historically speaking, why has the Japanese emperor been especially revered?
20. Choose one monotheistic religion (Judaism, Christianity or Islam), and compare it with
Shinto. What are some similarities? What are some differences?
Similarities
Differences
AP World History
Shinto Key
Name ___________________________________
1. How old is Shinto?
8. What are “kami”? What forms do they
It has been in existence for more than 2,500 take? ”Kami” are gods or spirits.
years.
a. Those related to natural objects and
creatures (rivers, rocks, animals)
2. How can most Japanese practice both
b. Guardian kami of particular areas or
Shinto and Buddhism?
Shinto focuses on the everyday and fitting clans
into this world, while Buddhism focuses on
c. Exceptional people (Emperors,
the afterlife.
Buddha)
3. When did Shinto originate?
Shinto seems to have originated around
500 BCE.
4. What does Shinto combine? And where
does its name come from?
Shinto seems to combine a love of nature
with shamanistic beliefs. It’s name comes
from the Chinese “shin tao”, or “Way of the
Gods”.
d. Abstract creative forces
9. Describe kami.
Kami are seen as benign forces that help,
sustain and guide people. They are not
transcendent deities who have significant
powers, like in Greek or Indian tradition.
Kami are close to humanity, living in the
same world, thinking as humans do. Kami
are close to humanity, living in the same
world, thinking as humans do.
5. How is Shinto different from other world
10. How do Shintoists view…
religions?
a. Human life?
Shinto has no founder, no formal scriptures,
All human life and human nature is sacred.
no religious law, and a rather informal
priesthood.
b. Ancestors?
Ancestors are to be deeply revered and wor6. What influences has Amaterasu Omikami shipped because the deceased generally behad on Japan?
come kami.
Amaterasu Omikami (Sun Goddess) was one
c. Morality?
of their daughters, and she became the
Morality is based upon that which is benefiancestor of the Imperial family. She is
cial to the group.
regarded as the chief diety, and as such, the
Japanese emperor was always seen as
11. What are the 4 affirmations of the Shinto
divine.
spirit?
a. Tradition and the family
7. Where does the name Japan come from?
How is it represented?
b. Respect of nature
The name ‘Japan’ means “sun-origin”. Thus
c. Physical cleanliness or purity
the Japanese flag has a large red circle on it
d. ”Matsuri” or festival
signifying the sun.
12. What are these affirmations designed to
do?
These affirmations are designed to help
followers live a simple and harmonious life
with people and nature. Such harmony is the
goal of Shintoism.
15. What are some purification rituals?
Water cleansing, while others merely involve
prayers or the spreading of salt or rice.
16. How do Shinto & Buddhism coexist in
Japan?
Both religions share an optimism about hu13. Describe Shinto shrines.
man nature but with Shinto, the Japanese
Each Shinto shrine is dedicated to a specific focus on the everyday, while with Budkami who has a divine personality. Shrines dhism, they are able to focus on the afterlife.
typically have a Torii, or gateway through
which people enter. Often there are a pair of 17. How were Confucian ideas merged into
stone guardian dogs.
Shinto?
Confucianism fits nicely with the Shinto be14. What creates impurity? Why should peo- lief in the benefit of the group, and it has a
ple purify themselves?
similar societal impact in Japan to that of
Wrong deeds are considered impure. Impuri- China.
ties make kami restless and dissatisfied, and
therefore, people should want to purify
18. What aspects of Japanese art & society
themselves both for the sake of placating
reflect Shinto traditions?
kami, but also for one’s own peace of mind
Garden design, flower arranging, and tradiand good fortune.
tional architecture, celebrations, sumo ring
purification, respect for elders, use of
wooden chopsticks, and the removal of
shoes.
Analysis:
19. Historically speaking, why has the Japanese emperor been especially revered?
According to Shinto tradition, the emperor is a direct descendent of Amaterasu Omikami,
the sun goddess. Thus the emperor is divine.
20. Choose one monotheistic religion (Judaism, Christianity or Islam), and compare it with
Shinto. What are some similarities? What are some differences?
Similarities
Festivals or celebrations
Necessity to clean or purify oneself
Inspire art, architecture and other aspects
of culture
Differences
Not monotheistic
No focus on the afterlife
Shinto focuses on ancestors, and morality
is based on what is good for the group, not
on a moral absolute
Lack of religious dogma, holy book, and
priesthood
Temples are less formal
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