Shintoism

Background

Shinto, which means "Way of the Gods," is the traditional religion of Japan that focuses on nature. Many consider Shinto to be a form of Animism due to the many similarities found between them.

Basics

Established: Shinto was was founded around the year 500 BCE. Torri Founder: Evolved from a mixture of tribal religions with similar beliefs. Geographic Origin: Developed on the Japanese archipelago. Currently Practiced: Most common in Japan.

Significant Writings:

Kokiji, or Record of Ancient Matters and Nikong, or Chronicles of Japan. Places of Worship: Shinto shrines are usually dedicated near sites of impressive natural beauty (e.g., mountains, lakes, etc.), or of historical importance to Japan. The entrance to these shrines is usually indicated by the presence of a red gateway called a torri.

Significant Religious People:

Traditionally, the Emperor of Japan was considered to be a direct descendant of the Sun Goddess who created the Japanese islands. Therefore, the Emperor was considered divine by the people who practiced Shinto. After Japan surrendered to the United States in WWII, Emperor Hirohito renounce his divinity and political authority.

Teachings and Beliefs

Shinto teaches that there is a sacredness of the whole universe and that humans can be in tune with this sacredness. Every mountain, river, plant, animal, and all the diverse phenomena of heaven and earth have spirits, or kami, which inhabit them. Reverence is paid to the ancestors through the practice of ancestor worship.