Religion of Shinto

Shinto is an indigenous religion of Japan that is defined as a type of theology that focuses on ritual practices that establishes a connection between present-day Japan and its ancient past. Shinto was first used in the 6th century A.D., although the roots of this religion can be traced back to 6th century B.C. 

The religion of Shinto has no founder, no sacred books and no formalized doctrine. Shinto practices are not exactly considered a 'unified religion', but more of native and mythological beliefs. While this theology as first instituted around the 6th century B.C., Shinto practices were first recorded in the 8th century A.D. and are known as the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki. 

Practitioners express their diverse beliefs through a standard language and practice, adopting a similar style in dress and ritual, dating from around the time of the Nara and Heian periods.

Various practices of Shinto is as follows:

• Omari - Anyone may visit a shrine. Typically there are a few basic steps to visiting a shrine. 

• Harae - The rite of ritual purification [usually done daily at a shrine] is a ceremony of offerings and prayers of several forms

• Misogi - The practice of purification by ritual use of water while reciting prayers is typically done daily by regular practitioners, and when possible by lay practitioners.

• Imi - Another form of ritual cleanliness is avoidance, which means that a taboo is placed upon certain persons or acts.

• Ema - Are small wooden plaques that wishes or desires are written upon and left at a place in the shrine grounds so that one may get a wish or desire fulfilled. 

• Ofuda - Are talismans—made of paper, wood, or metal—that are issued at shrines. They are inscribed with the names of kamis and are used for protection in the home

• Omamori - Are personal-protection amulets sold by the shrines. They are frequently used to ward off bad luck and to gain better health.

• Omikuji - Are paper lots upon which personal fortunes are written.

• Daruma - Is a round, paper doll of the Indian monk, Bodhidharma. The recipient makes a wish and paints one eye; when the goal is accomplished, the recipient paints the other eye. 

• Dorei - Are earthenware bells that are used to pray for good fortune. 

For more information on Shinto practices and rituals, please visit: Shinto Practices

Kagura traditional dance,
Katori Jingu, Katori City

Kagura is the ancient Shinto ritual dance of shamanic origin. The word "kagura" is thought to be a contracted form of kami no kura or "seat of the kami" or the "site where the kami is received." In Japanese collections, Ame-no-uzeme’s dance is described as asobi, which in old Japanese language means a "ceremony that is designed to appease the spirits of the departed", and which was conducted at funeral ceremonies. 

There is no sacred text in Shinto, as the Bible in Christianity, the Tanakh in Judaism or the Qur'an in Islam. Instead there are book collections of folklore and history which provide a background to various Shinto beliefs. All written compilations are based on ancient oral traditions:

• The Kojiki (Record of Ancient Matters) The foundation to written Shinto history.

• The Shoku Nihongi and its Nihon Shoki (Continuing Chronicles of Japan)

• The Rikkokushi (Six National Histories) which includes the Shoku Nihongi and Nihon Shoki

• The Jinnō Shōtōki (a study of Shinto and Japanese politics and history) written in the 14th century

It is interesting to note the syncretism with Buddhism.  When Buddhism was introduced in the 6th century and adopted by the Court soon after, it was necessary to explain the apparent differences between native Japanese beliefs and the teachings of Buddha. 

One Buddhist explanation saw the kami as supernatural beings still caught in the cycle of birth and rebirth (also known as reincarnation). The kami are born, live, die, and are reborn like all other beings in the karmic cycle. However, the kami played a special role in protecting the fundamental teachings of Buddha and allowing Buddhism to flourish.

This explanation was later challenged by Kūkai (774–835), who saw the kami as different embodiments of the Buddhas themselves (honji suijaku theory). For example, he linked Amaterasu (the sun goddess and ancestor of the Imperial family) with Dainichi Nyorai, a central manifestation of the Buddhists, whose name means literally "Great Sun Buddha". In his view, the kami were just Buddhas by another name.

Fushimi Inari—Main Gate,
one of the oldest shrines in Japan

Present-day Shinto is a term that applies to the religiosity of public shrines which are devoted to the worship of the kami (or multiple gods), suited to various purposes such as war memorials and harvest festivals, and applies as well to various sectarian organizations. 

Shinto is the largest religion in Japan, practiced by nearly 80% of the population, yet only a small percentage of these followers identify themselves as "Shintoists" in surveys. This is due to the fact that "Shinto" has different meanings in Japan: most of the Japanese attend Shinto shrines and beseech kami without belonging to an institutional "Shinto" religion, and since there are no formal rituals to become a member of folk "Shinto", "Shinto membership" is often estimated counting those who join organised Shinto sects. The estimated number of people practicing Shinto worldwide is 2.7 million.

Shinto has 100,000 shrines and 78,890 priests in the country. 

According to Inoue (2003):

"In modern scholarship, the term is often used with reference to kami worship and related theologies, rituals and practices. In these contexts, "Shinto" takes on the meaning of "Japan’s traditional religion", as opposed to foreign religions such as Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and Judaism."