Shinto 04 02 2014 Basics Loosely organized native religion of Japan not originally defined or named just practiced Shrine worship worship of kami Great variety multitude of religious and cultural practices Some aspects of Japanese nationalism Animism and ancestor worship Term Shinto developed in 6th century BCE to distinguish from other religions Shen tao or kami no michi the way of the gods Aspects of Japanese folk religions Can be described as an indigenous or folk religion Worship of deity tablets Tabooing of certain dates directs Belief in spirits Worship of natural objects Kami of fields and mountians Divination predicting the future reading tea leaves or cracks in a tortoise shell Oracles people who can see the future linked to shamanism Kami Translated as god gods but this is limited Whatever seemed strikingly impressive possessed the quality of excellence and virtue and inspired feelings of awe was called Kami Reflected in natural forces wind rain mountains etc People after death become ancestral Kami Practice faith by performing rites and rituals to Kami they have power to influence good and bad things in human life Jinja Blanket term for shrine came out of outdoor practice of rites area that usually included a nice rock or tree and was roped of Over time Buddhist altar worship influenced Shinto Jinja practice idea of enshrining the Kami in a building became more prevalent Jinja are set in natural environment and the construction reflects simplicity and purity are harmonious to natural environment Objects used for worship are generally a mirror or Heihaku o Heihaku paper cloth strips attached to a stand like a streamer Shrines vary by type of Kami and locality Japanese Mythology Kami natural and supernatural persons and powers worshipped in Shinto are present everywhere in nature and in people Had been worshipped in Japan from prehistory Influx of writings and influence from China Korea in 8 th century CE led Japanese to record their religious drama and history o Kojiki Chronicles of Ancient Events creation story involving Izanagi Creator God Izanami Creator Goddess Together they created the world but particularly Japan became divine parents of other kami First Japanese emperor was said to be direct descendant of Kami Amaterasu Sun Goddess one of the most important and worshipped kami all Japanese emperors were said to have descended from this line Outside Influence Jimmu first recorded emperor of Japan Reaction to Buddhism solidified idea of native worship as distinct religion Advocates of Shinto recognized Buddhas and Bodhisattvas as revelation of kami Ryobu a syncretism between Shinto and Buddhism that developed in 6 th 9th centuries CEday to day Shinto domain concerns for afterlife Buddhist domain Development of distinctly Japanese forms of Buddhism Shinto Revival For several centuries Shinto was hardly distinguishable from Buddhism 17th century CE Tokugawa regime Shinto received official support o Japan ruled by military leaders who were isolationist In 1853 Commodore Matthew C Perry came to Japan to insist that they open their ports for trade with the U S The Japanese were forced to open up trade and after sometime decided upon a Western style religious reform major influx of western influence Forms of Shinto State Shinto Government funded and supported religion engendered patriotism nationalism and loyalty to Japanese Emperor Shinto holidays widely practiced WWII decline in Shinto practice after surrender to Allies in 1945 Sectarian Shinto Religious side of Shinto outside of nationalism These sectarian Shintoists can be divided into several categories based on the focus of their worship First category Focus on worship of mountains Second category Practice shamanism and divination healing powers and future telling o Very popular category of Shinto Third category pure Shinto maintained religious and mythological elements of early Shinto Domestic Shinto Common form takes place in home Kami dana god shelf a place in home to put symbols amulets anything of religious significance to family used like an altar o Usually involves ancestors filial piety patron deities families might have specific kami o Used in conjunction with butsu dan Buddhist household altar Teachings Ethics Ethical system built around maintaining community and harmonious relationships when neglect of maintaining relationship to kami or social norms Purity ablutions purifying areas with salt sea water is purifying Sins acts against social constructs ex festivals and ancestor worship injury murder infanticide poisoning cursing If one upsets kami on a large scale monumental consequences can occur Rites of purification to pacify natural forces and keep harmony o Harmonious relationships country family society Afterlife Focus is on real life Once one is closer to death it makes more sense to focus on Buddhism which has more of a focus on what comes after life Spirit remains forever Kami is generated through this o When you are dead and there is no longer anyone in your living family who knew you that is when you can become ancestral Kami Diferent worlds that kami can exist in all similar to ours but have diferent locations Access between these worlds is open Festivals New Year s Festival pilgrimage to shrines special meal with family new amulet for the home to protect and watch over family Bon Festival ancestral soul s day honor the Kami visit graves special meal with family Rites of Passage o Hatsumiya Mode new born brought to shrine and welcomed to Shinto community o Shich Go Shan Boys when 5 girls when 7 brought to shrine receive blessings o Coming of Age 20 years old go to shrine receive blessings o Marriage Festival go to shrine Modern Shinto Still exists in Japan today but no longer state religion Challenges of modernization industrialization of Japan popularity of Buddhism Most prominent forms of Shinto are sectarian faith healers and domestic home practice Shrines and altars are still used as places of worship Taoism 04 02 2014 Basic Chinese Religious Concepts Polytheism multiple gods and spirits animistic major and local dieties Yin and Yang universe operates through the two Filial Piety respecting family and elders etiquette within society o Ancestor worship devoted shrines Divination prediction of future tortoise shells stalks of grain Belief in Shang Ti emerged 11th century BCE closest thing to singular powerful god in Chinaused Shang Ti to justify emperors rule Declining Feudal System breaks