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.
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. Web
Resources
The
Geography of Shintoism (Morehead University)
Shintoism
(Ontario Consultants)
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