Shinto Influence

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A Shinto priest, Rev. Yukitaka Yamamota, once said, “To be fully alive is to have an aesthetic perception of life because a major part of the world’s goodness lies in its often unspeakable beauty” (Fisher, 224). Yamamota’s quote summarizes one of the main concepts of theology in Shinto. However, Shinto theology is not only about natural beauty. Shinto is the ancient indigenous religion of Japan, and is a major influence in the Japanese culture. The basis of Shinto theology is that there is no God but there is kami in everything. Shinto also has a major influence on the arts. The Japan theater play of Noh has Shinto concepts incorporated in them. In addition, the painting styles of Japan have an influence on the West. Shinto also influences
One of the past times for the Japanese is to attend the theater where are many different types of plays. One type of play is called Noh. The Noh plays have very slow movements that are precise, the actors will wear masks, and there will also be chanting. There are many influences of Shinto in the Noh plays because, “Several Noh stories were composed, based on Shinto deities, and Shinto shrines” (“The Impact”). In addition, many of the Noh plays are based around or include the stories of Shinto priest and their encounter with shrine worship, as well as kami and the burdens of the people who come to worship at the shrine (“The Impact”). Another important influence Shintoism has on the arts is the area of painting. The painting styles and visual arts of Japan and Shintoism have an effect of the West (Detrick “Shintoism). For example, Frank Lloyd Wright was “impressed with Japanese landscape and use of architecture to result the natural soundings” and incorporated many of those ideas into his painting (Detrick “Shintoism”). Artist like Edouard Manet and Claude Monet used the Shinto shrine gardens with neutral backgrounds that had unusual perspectives and also simplified forms (Detrick “Shintoism”). Shintoism has affected artists because of the simplicity of Shinto, the ideas of Shinto, and their concept of nature to draw amazing paintings of waves or gardens. Overall, the arts have had major influences of Shinto concepts, deities, practices, and shrines included in them. However, Shinto also has impacts on the social and political aspect of society

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