VCU RELS 108 - Human Spitituality 3 (19 pages)

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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