Shinto Religion

The meaning behind the name “Shinto” is “Way of the Gods” and stands as the traditional but also ancient religion of Japan, created by the Japanese.. Once Buddhism was brought into Japan, Shinto became its own distinct religion. Although there is no clear definition as to when Shinto originally began, it is believed that in between the 4th and 6th centuries BCE Shinto had begun to define itself. Even then, the name “Shinto” was not associated with the religion until the 12th century. Unlike most religions, Shinto regards all natural things as spiritual, and thus has no founder nor sacred scriptures. Though believers refer to the spirits as “Kami”, which translates to “God”, the Japanese “Kami" and Western “God” are different, there is no one

Shinto is described as being based on a person’s response to both their natural and human surroundings, which as a result reflects on one’s thought and conduct. As stated earlier, this religion deals with a variety of gods, ranging from the principles of love and order to heroes and past Emperors, who take form in the spirits of nature. In order to have unity with these gods, a person must return to their “original” state. When one is first born, each contains a pure and bright heart that becomes tainted over time, and to return to the “original” state would be to have that same pure and bright heart again. However if a person does not have these qualities, then they will risk being in disfavor of the gods. Those who practice Shinto believe that the Goddess Amaterasu, the most popular deity and Sun Goddess, is the protector of Japan and from her all of the gods, emperors and Japanese people came to be. Though Amaterasu is the most popular deity, the aim of Shinto is to not be evangelical. Rather the goal is for one to be able to sense the divine in the forest, without putting pressure on the believers nor the

The practices include participation, or attendance of the various ceremonies and festivals which are closely tied to national traditions rather than having believers join in a congregation. Matsuri is an example of one of the various festivals that takes place at the shrines periodically, where people of all ages come to honor the folk deities. In Shinto, as there are no images, sacred books, nor commandments, there is an emphasis on the individual’s state of being and practice. The practices of Shinto do include prayer, like many other religions, and the aim for Shinto prayer is to live being pure and one with the gods daily. These prayers usually tend to take place in shrines dedicated to the various gods. Many of the shrines are places in forests, with trees and nature to surround them and give the shrines both meaning and significance, as without them the shrines are simply buildings. The only way to enter these shrines is to go through the “torii” gate, which marks a sacred place. This gate symbolizes the separation between the earthly world from the spiritual world, and even the ends of the upper crosspiece curve upward, which helps in signaling communication with the gods. An important part of Shinto practice is the need to manage and protect the forests, which result in