SHINTOISM

Discussion:
ORIGIN AND GROWTH OF SHINTO
■ For majority of Japanese, there is only one indigenous religious tradition and that
is Shinto.
■ One becomes a member of Shinto through blood and not by means of proselytizing.
■ 90 percent of the Japanese population is still involved in Shinto ritual practice every year.
■ The Japanese people do not want to be labeled religious.
■ Shinto described as an action-centered religion. A religion not founded on a set
of propositional beliefs but rather on action.

SHINTO or "Kami No Michi" as One Tradition

IMPERIAL SHINTO
■ The emperor used to be considered as divine.
STATE SHINTO (KOKKA SHINTO)
■ The national faith of Japan.
Shrine Shinto (Jinja Shinto)
■ Is one of the oldest forms of Shinto expression.
SECRETARIAN SHINTO (KYOHA SHINTO)
■ Called as religious Shinto.
■ Which were thought as the “chosen ones”.
SHAMANIC SHINTO (MINKAN SHINTO)
■ Deals with shaman, spirit phenomena, and faith healing.
DUAL SHINTO (RYOBU SHINTO)
■ RYOBU SHINTO – A mixture of Buddhism and Shinto
■ Philosophical Shinto – interested in speculative thinking and conjectures.

The kojiki creation story

The Kojiki creation story has been translated in various languages and variedly in the English
language. The following simplified translation is taken from the online site called Japanese
Classroom Resources Page (“Creation of Japan: Myth,” n.d.):

“Once upon a time, when the world was still young, floating like oil, two gods, Izanagi no
Mikoto and Izanami no Mikoto were commanded by the primal gods to make the land and fix it
in place. The two stood on the Floating Bridge of Heaven and thrust the Heavenly Jewelled
spear into the sea. The brine that dripped from the spear became an island where the two
performed a marriage rite around a pillar. Izanami gave birth to the islands of Japan and their
deities, the gods of the sea, river, mountain, field, tree, stone, fire and many others. But in giving
birth to the fire god, she was burned and died. Izanagi followed Izanami to Yomi no Kuni (the
Land of Dead) to urge her to return. She agreed to consult with the gods of Yomi, but warned
him not to look at her. Impatient for Izanami's return, he entered the palace of the gods of Yomi,
only to find her corpse horribly transformed. He fled, pursued by the shamed Izanami, and
escaped by blocking the exit of Yomi with a large boulder. He then went to the river to purify
himself by bathing (misogi). From his left eye when he cleansed it was born Amaterasu
Omikami (Goddess of the Sun); Tsukushi no Mikoto (God of the Moon) was born from his right
eye, and Susanoo no Mikoto (God of Storms) was born from his nose. Izanagi charged
Amaterasu with the rule of the High Plain of Heaven, Tsukushi no Mikoto with the Realm of
Night, and Susanoo no Mikoto with the Plain of the Seas. Thus was born Japan and its
surrounding world.”

Basic teachings of Shinto: ancestor Worship and kami

KAMI
 ■ Two important descriptive meanings”
1. Use as noun means “divine being”
2. Use an adjective points to religious quality such as divine, sacred and holy.

Sacred Words
WORD MEANING
KAMI DIVINITY, DIVINE, SACRED

KANNAGARA HOLINESS AND WHOLENESS

KI AWESOME POWER

WA HARMONY OR PEACEFULNESS

TENNO SACREDNESS CONCENTRATED

IN THE PERSON OF THE RULE
OF EMPEROR