1. Shintoism Sami Carroll Mackenzie Maring Kristen Kuberka December 2011 preAP World History

2. History Oldest Japanese Religion Shin (Spirit) and To (from Tao meaning path) Founded around 500 BCE in Japanese archipelago (group of islands) Japan hunter gatherers joined clans called uji Developed from their tradition of paying respect to nature Practices began among farming and fishing villages No founder / central figure

3. Teachings- existence The World is continuous stream of creation Humans are simply apart of the world not specially created Sacredness of the whole Earth and Universe, humans can be in tune with sacredness Do not join Shintoism are born into Shinto Believe Shinto to be an identity First emperor great-great-great-grandson of the Sun goddess Sun goddess(Amaterasu) daughter of Izanami and Izanagi, creators of Japanese islands and the people

4. Teachings - Beliefs Cleanliness and purification emphasized Ideal is to lead pure, sincere life pleasing to many Kami Stresses purity and uprightness Listen to dictates of heart Respect their ancestors, leaders’ natural world and show gratitude towards Kami

5. Script No fixed script / Holy book Ancient prayers handed down orally Eventually written down Prayers recited at shrines by priest during festivals Kojiki began in 712 CE (a record of ancient matters to trace succession of emperors) Nihon Shoki “Chronicles of Japan” completed around 720 CE

6. Kami Does not include concept of vast overreaching power Polytheistic A Kami is a spirit Even most humble object may be invested with a spirit All phenomena of Earth and Heaven have Kami Things in nature (rivers, mountains, trees, cliffs, etc.) Shrines made

7. Shrines At first no shrines worship in natural place Indicated by Torri ( red gate ) Started to build small, simple structures to which Kami can be summoned Shrines always include running water Made sacrifices and said prayers

8. Celebrations and Festivals New Year Families get ready for new year Blessings to ancestors Autumn Festival Harvests are made and prepared Harvest made to worship the Kami Annual Festival Statues of Kamis carried around town Carried in a Mikoshi

9. Ceremonies Birth of a child When born brought to the Shine Initiated as a new believer Will be bless in the future by Kami Shichi-Go-San Seven-Five-Three Boys age of 5 Girls ages 3 and 7 Offer thanks to Kami Priest go through 10 years of training to learn how to perform the ceremonies. Priesthood is normally hereditary.

10. Festivals and Rituals Passage under the tori into the world of gods Purification Led to the shrines sanctuary and bow before the alter Food offerings are made Priest/Priestess leads prayers Music and dance Symbolic offerings made to Kami Offerings removed, sanctuary is closed Priest delivers a sermon and hosts a ceremonial meal

11. Conducted to calm disturbed Kami Examples: – Ground breaking for new building – Shrine had to be taken down or rebuilt – Apollo 11 (1969) People stood under waterfalls to be purified Symbols (water, sand, fire, sake and salt) Ceremonies, weddings Purification ritual

12. Women’s Roles Amaterasu- (goddess of the sun) was worshipped for her female qualities First female emperor was Jimmu Beliefs that women have direct contact with the Kami “ Dawn doesn’t break without a women” Unmarried females have long sleeved kimonos and married females have short sleeves.

13. Women’s Roles Women were expected to be faithful Women could not divorce their husbands until last century Women’s lives were dedicated to their houses and families Women couldn’t own their own property Peasant women had no rights or freedom Upper class women were treated pretty fairly and had more rights Working at home was considered a patriotic duty to Japan Equal rights granted after World War II Women were able to vote in 1946 Women are still influenced

14. Influence Industry sometimes construct shrines on company property Worship Kami’s for grades and success in work rather than the Kami’s of fields and streams Shintoism separated from govt. after WWII Hasn’t spread far from Japan or Japanese race Followers outside of Japan are mostly Japanese born immigrants

15. Citation "A Breif Introduction to Shinto." Kwintessentail. Kwinessential, 2008. Web. 6 Dec. 2011.. Alvon Consulting, LLC, prod. "Shinto." Patheos. Patheos, 2011. Web. 6 Dec. 2011.. Caswell, Thomas. "Shinto." Oswego City School District Regents Exam Prep Center. Oswego City School District, 2003. Web. 1 Dec. 2011.. Hartz, Paula R. Shinto World Religions. New York : Facts On File, Inc., 1997. Print. Roberson, John R. Japan form Shogun to Sony 1543-1984. Antheneum: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1985. Print. Shelley, Rex, Teo Chuu Yong, and Russell Mok. Cultures of The World Japan. N.p.: Times Publishing Group, 2002. Print. Student Pulse Online Acedemic Student Journel, prod. Women In Ancient Japan: From Matriarchal Antiquity to Aquiescent Confinement. N.p., 15 Sept. 2010. Web. 6 Dec. 2011..