Shinto Traditions
Edited from Japan-Guide Web Site (Kinboshi Media)

Session Co-ordinator: Yoshinobu Miyake

Shinto (the way of the gods) is the indigenous faith of the Japanese people. Shinto does not have a founder nor does it have sacred scriptures like the Sutras or the Bible. Propaganda and preaching is also not common because Shinto is very deeply rooted in the Japanese people and its traditions. The kami are the objects of worship in Shinto. They consist of sacred spirits and can take various forms such as natural elements like the sun, mountains, trees, rocks, and the wind, or abstract things like fertility. But, they can also include ancestors, national heroes, and protectors of family clans.

In contrast to Western religions, there are no absolutes in Shinto. However, there is a most important goddess, the Sun goddess Amaterasu Omikami, whose shrine is at Ise. Shinto is a very optimistic faith. It is thought that all humans are fundamentally good, and that all evil is caused by evil spirits. The purpose of most of the rituals is to avoid evil spirits by purification, offerings, and prayers. While a written code of ethics and morals does not really exist in the Shinto belief; Confucian ethics have melted together with Shinto traditions over the centuries, especially during the Edo period.

Currently, followers seek support from Shinto and visit shrines in order to pray for good fortune and to avoid evil spirits, especially before special events such as the opening of a business, school entrance exams, etc. Several kinds of talismans can be acquired at many shrines with a little offering, (i.e. they can be bought with money). Shinto prayers at shrines or at home follow more or less the following pattern (there exist several variations): First of all you should purify yourself, by cleaning your hands and your mouth with clean water. Then you give your offerings (e.g. coins at a shrine or food at the home shrine), bow twice deeply, clap your hands twice, bow deeply once more and pray.

Shinto priests perform the rituals. Priests are private persons who can marry and have children. There are even a few female priests. The priests are usually supported by young ladies (miko) in white kimonos. They help the priest at rituals and in other tasks in the shrine. They must be unmarried and are often the priest's daughters.

Shinto shrines are the places of worship and the homes of the kami. Most shrines celebrate festivals (matsuri) regularly. Before the Meiji restoration, Shinto shrines were organised by the communities. On the other hand, the emperor performed the imperial Shinto rituals at the court - an important governmental task. After the Meiji restoration, however, the Meiji rulers made Shinto their state religion. Japanese creation myths were used to show a direct link between the Sun goddess and the emperor's family to foster national feelings and to justify the emperor's absolute position. Shinto priests became state officials and the important shrines were funded by the government. After WWII, Shinto was completely separated from the state and was classified as an independent religion. Today, most of the shrines belong to the Association of Shinto Shrines.