Anna Lee, Jason Lewis, Nahya Pelito, Sora Shojae |
Deeper Into shinto
The History of Shinto
Before the time of 500 C.E., Shinto was not an official religion. However, there were many groups that modern-day classify as Shinto. The first people to populate Japan practiced animism, meaning all animals, plants and even objects in nature have spirits. These spirits have many similar characteristics with the Kami worshipped today. The primitive inhabitants of Japan made up tales and rituals to help honor the spirits they believed in. In doing so, they also made sense of the world they live in, giving them a presence in history. There are other groups classified as Shinto today, but they most likely emigrated from Korea with their people to later invade Japan. The religions these groups practiced were highly dependent on where they lived; each form of the religion was exclusive to a different part of Japan. Because of this, all the different beliefs were not seen as a single religion of Japan. Between 500 C.E. and 600 C.E., Buddhism and Confucianism spread to Japan, affecting the various Shinto religions. When they arrived, the religions of Japan all began to adopt some similarities of Buddhism and Confucianism. For example, many Shinto shrines were modified to also act as a Buddhist temple. When the government in Japan saw how the 3 religions were influencing Japanese culture and the people of Japan, the initiated the Department for the Affairs of the Deities. From 601 C.E. to 800 C.E., the fact that the emperor of Japan was a descendant of Amaterasu was documented and accepted by all.
This lead to the construction of the shrines in Ise. However, after a few centuries, Buddhism slowly became the dominant religion in Japan. Buddhism also was beginning to make a stronger presence in the government. It was however, infused with Shinto beliefs. Shortly before the Meiji, Shinto went through a movement. This is when the idea that Japanese are related to the Kami and are a race higher than everyone else was formed. During this time, Buddhist beliefs were excluded from Shinto shrines and rituals.
When the Meiji restoration occurred in 1868, religion in Japan was greatly affected. Probably the biggest change was the separation of Buddhism and Shinto. Some other achievements include the adoption of a national religion, Modern Shrine Shinto, and a modern imperial institution. It was in this period that Amaterasu rose to be the powerful Kami she is today. In doing so, the emperor of Japan gained power and was the highest ranking Shinto priest. Until 1890, the government supported for the construction of more shrines and also the eradication of anything relating to Buddhism. Shinto was being propagandized by all powerful figures including military generals, government officials and the imperial family. In 1946 after World War II, Shinto was abrogated as an official, national religion of Japan. However, Shinto is still intermixed with everyday Japanese life; the imperial family still has ties with Shinto, yet they are unofficial.
Shinto Beliefs
Shintoists believe that Izanagi and Izanami created everything, from Japan itself to the Kami Amaterasu. They also believe that the imperial family and all the Japanese people are related to the Kami. The real world and the infinite world in Shinto are separated by the chaos caused by the creation of the Kami. The Kami and humans both relate to the earth, for that is where they both reside, making the finite world more sacred. A place in which any Kami has been is regarded as a sacred space. This can be anything from a tree to a mountain. One must regularly purify himself to wash away all of their pollution; pollution and impurity is the daily evils that one must fight. Shintoist also believe humans do not suffer as punishment, but their suffering is a part of life that everyone must go through. While Shinto does not have an official set of morals to follow, people tend to follow the morals of Confucianism. Other foreign religions influenced Shinto too. For instance, Buddhism changed the Shinto aspect on afterlife. The original belief was that once one dies, they will be sent to a hell-like underworld for eternity. However, after Buddhism was introduced, they believed in deliverance from death. In Shinto there are four main affirmations. The preservation of traditions through family, nature and natural objects are worshiped, Shintoists keep themselves physically clean and you worship and honor Kami.
Shinto Rituals
Shinto rituals and worship should be kept sincere, pure and in good spirits. The goal of a Shinto ritual is to please the mind and body of those who participate in it. Because of this, the preciseness is of most importance. Many elements are taken into consideration such as the clothing worn, location and items used. This is to ensure the satisfaction of the Kami the ritual is intended for. Worship can occur in private or in public. Most homes in Japan have what is called a Kami Dana, where, usually, food is offered. This is also where people can say prayers in private. One can go to a shrine to worship at any time. Worshiping at a shrine generally has more intricacy. You must have a great understanding of nature because the comparison between the rituals and the finite world is how human empathy is created. One type of ritual is Norito. These are formal prayers that directly address the Kami they are aimed to please. In this, a priest will recite prayers from him and the worshipers. Another ritual is Kagura, which is a Shinto dance performed in hope to please and entertain the Kami. This style of dancing has been a part of Shinto for hundreds of years and is still commonly practiced today. However, there have been some modernizations made to the dances. There are not just rituals for honoring and worshiping Kami. Harae refers to the various purification rituals used to purify you physical and mental state of well being. The most common purification ritual is temizu. It is imperative to perform this ritual before entering a shrine or other sacred spot. In this, Water is used to wash away pollution and evil. A Haraigushi is a special stick with strips of white paper on the end. It is held over an object or person to purify them. Oharae is a ritual to cleanse pollution from a big group of people at once. This ritual has a specific time in which it is performed. It is held at the end of December and at the end of June. As well as rituals, there are many Shinto festivals too. Hanami is the celebration of friends, family, nature and beauty, occurring from mid March to May. Many of the festivals are supported by the Shinto Shrines, but most of the people of Japan feel that this celebration has lost much of its religious meaning. In addition to there being festivals held at shrines, festivals can also be held at a household. On Setsubun, families will throw beans to help ward off evil spirits. This is done in preparation of the first day of spring, which is the following day, based on the Lunar Calendar.
"Because the Sovereign great goddess bestows on him the countries of the four quarters over which her glance extends, as far as the limit where Heaven stands up like a wall..." (Tokihira) This quote from the Engishiki expresses the connection between Amaterasu and the physical country of Japan and how she watches over the entirety of it. It also relates to the linking of heaven and earth, for Amaterasu is commonly compared to heaven.
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This is a video of the mass purification ritual oharae being performed in Tokyo at the Kanda - Myojin Shrine. It shows the vastness and intricacy of the ritual.
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