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Introduction
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Origin and History
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Beliefs and Worship
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Concept of God
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It is the native
religion of Japan which combines an emphatic oneness with natural
forces and loyalty to the reigning dynasty as descendants of the
sun-goddess, Amaterasu-Omikami. Traditional Shinto followers
stressed obedience and devotion to the emperor and aggressive
patriotism. About four million people practice traditional Shinto
according to an estimate.
Shinto means the
“ways of gods” it is Chinese word ‘Shin Tao’ which is
transliteration of Japanese Kami-no-Michi. Shinto ceremonies
appeal to the Kami (superior beings) the mysterious forces of
nature who manifest in topographical features such as mountains,
trees, stones, springs and caves. Shinto focuses on purity,
devotion and sincerity. This religion or the way of the gods has
basically three elements: Kinship with nature, the importance of
purity, and devotion to Japan. It does not have an elaborate
philosophy, and unlike other religions, it does not stress life
after death.
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It is reported in
the classical myths which have been recorded in the Kojiki (712
A.D.) and Nihogi (720 A.D.) how the Sun goddess, Amaterasu, sent
her grandson to be the first ruler of the islands. This is what
she told him: “I think that this land will undoubtedly be suitable
for the extension of the heavenly task, so that its glory should
fill the universe. It is, doubtless, the center of the world.”
Therefore, the Japanese have a high estimate of islands of Japan
which have divine origin and the emperors of Japan who are direct
descendants of the Sun-Goddess, and so also the Japanese people.
This explains why they are so devoted to their emperor, their
country and their countrymen. Each Japanese is interested in all
Japanese and wishes for others what he wishes for himself. Loyalty
and faithfulness to their country and the emperor is the greatest
virtue of the Japanese. Japan is regarded as full of gods and
polytheism is unlimited.
In the sixth
century A.D. Buddhism came to Japan from China Via Korea alongwith
Chinese culture and it started influencing Japanese way of life.
With the adoption of Chinese writing, the myths and lore, which
were previously transmitted orally, were recorded in two books:
Kojiki (712 A.D.) and Nihongi (720 A.D). As the oldest surviving
histories these became the chief documents of Shinto. The word
Shinto was coined to distinguish the traditional religion from
Buddhism. The colloquial term, kami-no-michi, means
“divine-power-way.” A political attempt was made to settle the
conflict between Buddhism and Shinto by combining the two under
the name Ryobu Shinto (Two-aspect Shinto). Shinto deities were
declared to be avatars of various Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, Shinto
shrines were then merged with Buddhist temples, and priests
performed rites of both religions. With the passage of time this
political expedient” collapsed. In the l7th century scholars
rediscovered the Kojiki, Nihongi, and other early documents,
revived Shinto, and exalted the emperor as the descendant of the
sun goddess Amaterasu. Kamo Mabuchi, Motoori Norinaga, and Hirata
Atsutane laid the foundations of modern Shinto.1
In the Meiji era
(1868-1912), Shinto was divided into State Shinto–defined as
patriotic ritual incumbent on all Japanese–and Sect or Religious
Shinto. Any government employee might be called on to officiate at
some ritual of State Shinto, and all schoolchildren were compelled
to participate regularly, regardless of their religious
affiliation. At the end of World War II, State Shinto was
abolished and Emperor Herohito disavowed his divinity in 1946.
Sect Shinto has expanded enormously. Popular cults include
Tenrikyo, a faith-healing sect, Konkokyo, Kurozumikyo, Odoru
Shukyo, Mioshie, and Seicho-no-ie. The former national shrines are
now maintained as historical monuments.2
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Shintoists have
never been concerned with an idea of an afterlife. There are no
teachings about a life beyond the grave, and Shintoists do not
pray for a future bliss. They pray for much more specific things
such as food, happiness the welfare of the nation, and to express
thanks.
Shintoists
worship many deities, which are called kami. According to Shinto,
kami are the basic force in mountains, rivers, rocks, trees, and
other parts of nature. Shinto also considers kami the basic force
in such processes as creativity, disease, growth, and healing.
Many worship at small shrines in their homes. Roadside shrines
dedicated to certain kami are also common. Some public shrines
consists of several buildings and gardens. Individual worshipers
recite prayers and offer gifts of cakes and flowers to the Kami.3
On certain
occasions, Shinto priests lead ceremonies called matsuri. One of
the most important Shinto rituals is the Great Purification
Ceremony. It consists of a confession of sins committed by
individuals and by the nation as a whole, followed by a request
that the kami remove the impure conditions caused by these sins.
Other ceremonies deal with such basic goals as long life, peace,
abundant harvests, and good health.4
Shintoists use,
not images of their gods, but symbols of them. On their god
shelves are tablets or slips of paper on which are written the
names of the gods they wish to honor. A light burns there, and the
family places flowers and a bit of wine or rice cake there daily,
if possible. Loyal Shintoists try to hold brief prayer ceremonies
before the god shelf each day.5
Shinto priests,
who may live just as other men do, lead official services on
important religious days. They do not preach at regular services
each week. They are responsible for protecting the sacred objects
in the shrines. Frequently they have another occupation besides
the priesthood.6
Shinto shrines
have a special gateway, called a torii. No one knows exactly how
this attractive structure came to be a part of the shrines; its
real origin is lost in antiquity. Probably it was used years ago
for hanging the birds that were offered as a sacrifice to the Sun
Goddess. Although it no longer serves that purpose, yet a, torii
stands at the entrance to every Shinto shrine. Sometimes there is
a row of them. The torii is a distinctive symbol of the Shinto
religion.7
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Most Shintoists
speak of “the gods.” For the majority of Shintoists, there are
many gods and goddesses, who represent all human interests and all
phases of nature. Thoughtful Shintoists may speak of the divine.
To them, there is a divinity in all natural things – for there is
nothing supernatural. This quality of the divine is in man as
well, although he does not understand how it can be so. The
reverence paid to many gods and to the spirits of heroes and
famous men is simply a recognition of the divinity that is present
in all life. The more thoughtful persons in modern Japan have come
to believe in one God. Or, they might explain it as a belief in
one source for the divine quality of all life. But Shinto has
largely thrived on the belief in many gods.8
The Sun Goddess,
Amaterasu, is the center of Shinto worship. Her brother, the Storm
God, is widely honored, and so is the Food Goddess. All the gods
are descendants of the original divine pair, who gave birth to the
islands of Japan, as well as to the hosts of other deities. They
are called Izanagi, the Sky Father, and Izanami, the Earth Mother.
Japanese mythology fills in the details of the story of creation,
including the account of how Izanagi ordered Amaterasu to rule
over the Plain of High Heaven. For many years, Amaterasu has been
the symbol of everything most precious in the development of the
Japanese people.9
At the time when
Amaterasu dispatched her grandson to rule over Japan, she gave him
the three most sacred objects in the Shinto religion. The imperial
jewels, which are kept in the Tokyo palace, are symbols of
obedience and gentleness. The sword, kept in the shrine at Owari,
represents wisdom and justice. And the mirror, housed in the Ise
shrine, symbolizes righteousness and purity. Shintoists have
believed that the myths and objects serve to remind them of the
divine mandate by which their emperors rule.10
The Encyclopedia
Americana explains Japanese concept of God as under:
“In Japan the
native religion involved belief in literally thousands of gods,
who represented forces of nature and spirits of emperors and
heroes. The indigenous Shinto (literally “Way of the Gods”)
mingled with Buddhism to form a great variety of sects. Gods or
spirits were called kami (“superior beings”), and they were too
numerous to be organized into a pantheon or hierarchy. But most
important of the kami was Amaterasu, the goddess of the sun, from
whom the imperial family claimed descent.”
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1,2- Encyclopedia Americana
3,4- World Book Encyclopedia
5 to 10- The
Great Religions By Which Men Live
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