Early religion of Japan, now partially merged with Buddhism. Literally, Shinto means "Way of the Gods" (to = Chinese Tao; shin = Japanese Kami = anything out of the ordinary, or possessing superior power, or awe-inspiring) and displays a deep sense of the presence of powers, spirits (usually benign but occasionally malevolent) or "gods" in nature.

Gods: Amaterasu Omi-Kami (sun goddess, literally "Heaven- Shining- Great- August- Deity"); Ninigi-no-Mikoto (grandson of the sun goddess); Jimmu (literally "Divine Warrior," great grandson of Ninigi; first emperor of Japan, ca. 660 B.C.E.); Susanoo (the "Withering Wind of Summer"). Most of the Kami were only vaguely characterized; the above mentioned deities are exceptions. Shinto conceives of its gods as a combination of natural forces and semi-personal beings. The names of the gods themselves seem not personal as much as indications of their official functions synthesized into a kind of unity, reflecting their presence and power.

Scriptures: Kojiki ("Record of Ancient Matters"), written primarily in Japanese during the eighth century C.E., and probably based on an ancient oral tradition; Nihon-Shoki ("The Written Chronicles of Japan"), written around the same time but in Chinese.

Key Concepts: Emphasis on dualistic interplay of opposing forces of nature, such as sun vs. storm and hail, light vs. darkness, purity vs. pollution, etc.

Kami: (literally "superior beings")--spirits of mountains, trees, streams; gods of nature placated and venerated with simple offerings of grain, fruit and vegetables.

Shrines: exquisitely designed places of worship usually located in beautiful natural spots near mountains, streams, springs, and trees.

Jewel, sword, mirror: symbols of imperial authority, sacred objects used in Shinto ritual. The mirror, especially, is associated with the idea of purity, honesty and sincerity.

Bushido: medieval code of honor and patriotic action.

Mythology: Story of creation and the origin of the human race: In the beginning heaven and earth, positive and negative, were not separated but formed a chaotic egg shaped mass. Eventually heaven and earth separated, and a kind of reed shoot grew, uniting them. The reed shoot was transformed into a god, Kunitokotachi-no-Mikoto, "the one who established the land-eternal." Six generations later Izanagi, "the male who invites" and Izanami, "the female who invites" were spontaneously generated. They descended to earth and gave birth to the islands of Japan and numerous deities. Izanami died in the process of giving birth to fire. Izanagi followed her into the region of darkness, death and putrefaction. He realized that "having gone to a hideous and filthy place, it is meet that I should cleanse my body from its pollution." A whole new generation of deities emerged from the clothes he discarded and the parts of his body he washed to purify himself, among them was Amaterasu (from his left eye) and the Moon God (from his right eye) who in turn produced another series of divinities, eventually resulting in Ninigi (Amaterasu's grandson), the father of Jimmu, the first emperor of Japan. The actual descent or creation of the human race is left completely vague, except for the assurance that the people of the Japanese islands (located at the center of the earth) are more directly related to the gods than the rest of humanity.

©  1997 Ingrid H. Shafer
Last revised 6 January 2002