Shinto Japan’s Ancient Religion

Shinto is found in Japan! Shintoism is a Polytheistic religion that expresses love and respect for nature. Shinto is found in Japan!

Shintoism celebrates life and the beauty of nature Shintoists worship kami

KAMI •Kami is a term for Shinto Gods and spirits. Some kami are compared to the “gods” of the west, but are different in many ways, too. Kami can be forces of nature, important people, or even natural objects.

•A special rock, a large tree, or a waterfall, can be considered Kami. Some prominent rocks are worshiped as kami.

Shinto •Unlike most other religions of the world, Shinto does not have: Founder Religious laws. Holy Text/Book

The Four Claims of Shinto 1.-Tradition and the family is very important to Shinto followers The family is seen as the main force for traditions to be preserved. Main celebrations relate to birth and marriage.

The Four Claims of Shinto 2.-Love of nature: Nature is sacred; to be in contact with nature is to be close to the Gods. Natural objects are worshipped as sacred spirits

The Four Affirmations of Shinto 3.-Physical cleanliness: Followers of Shinto take baths, wash their hands, and rinse out their mouth often. Shinto stresses purifying that which is unclean, such as dirt, wounds, and disease. Touching the dead is considered unclean.

The Four Affirmations of Shinto 4.-Matsuri: The worship (festival) given to the kami and the ancestral spirits.

Shintoists build shrines dedicated to specific kami Shintoists build shrines dedicated to specific kami. The kami respond to sincere prayers of the faithful. Shrine ceremonies include cleansing, offerings, prayers, and dances. Torii One or more torii gates mark the approach and entrance to a shrine. They come in various colors and are made of various materials. Most torii, however are made of wood, and many are painted orange and black.

The Torii marks the separation between the world we live in and the world of the Gods.

A Tunnel of Torii Gates Inari Mt., (Kyoto, Japan)

Shinto Temple – “Worship Hall”

Quick Answer: Yes But in an altered form, current Japanese religion is a combination of Shintoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism.