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RELIGIONS
SHINTOISM
What is Shintoism?
Shintoism is an ancient religion that originated in Japan. It started during the 8th century C.E. Shintoism and is derived from two words, shin (means kami or gods) and to (or do, means path) or in Japanese shinto means “The way of the gods.”
In its early period, the religious belief and practice of Shinto had no name, fixed dogma, moral precepts, or sacred writings. Their worship is centered to kami, which are mainly gods and goddesses personifying aspects of the natural world, such as the sky, the earth, heavenly bodies, and storms. In other words, it is a belief that is nature-centric or animistic.
Shinto is divided into three main divisions:
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Jinja Shinto or temple-based Shinto,
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Kyoha Shinto, which is practiced by small group unaffiliated with temple-based Shinto; and
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Tsuzoku Shinto, which is folk-based or popular Shinto practices spread in various parts of Japan.
Their practices included prayers of thanksgiving; offerings of valuables, such as swords and armor and, especially, cloth.
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Basic beliefs, values and practices of Shintoism
The central god of Shintoism is the goddess Amaterasu Omikami or the Sun Goddess. She is revered as one of the highest worshiped gods in Shinto. She is believed to be the ancestor of the emperors of Japan because according to their Kojiki, emperors were direct descendants of the kami.
Kojiki
The Kojiki is oldest chronicle in Japan. It is here where one can find the names of the most important kami that are universally recognized.
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Ameno-minaka-nushi-no-kami
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Takamimusubi-no-mikoto
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Izagani-no-mikoto and Izanami-no-mikoto
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Amaterasu-o-mikami
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Susano-o-no-mikoto heaven
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Tsukiyomi-no-kami
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Okuninushi-no-kami
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Ninigi-no-mikoto
Ameterasu Omikami
Rituals in Shintoism are quite important because it is believed as the outward manifestation of faith in the kami. While some rituals are done at home, others are practiced in temples. The Nakatorimochi, or Shinto priest, takes the primary role as officiator of the rituals. Although there are currently more male priests, the earliest priests were Shamans. They were clan heads and were mostly women at the time.
In the 10th century, imperial ceremonies were conducted by the emperor who also administrates priestly rites in behalf of all the Japanese people. Other priestly classes include ritualists, abstainers, diviners, and dancers and musicians.
Norito is the Japanese term for public ritual prayers. It is one of the four important elements of the Shinto worship. The other three are the harai (purification), shinsen (offering), naorai (festivals).
The torii, is Japanese traditional gate most commonly found at the entrance of or within a jinja, or Shinto shrine, where it symbolically marks the area of sacred grounds.
Shinto priests and priestesses
Torii