Canada and the World

        Current Events with a Canadian Perspective

 

Last update

10 June 2011

Site map

Shintoism

 

WHEN

Shinto is an ancient Japanese religion that was originally a mixture of nature worship, fertility cults, fortune telling, and hero worship. It started to evolve into Shintoism between 660 and 700 BCE. It is as much a cultural identity as it is a religion.

 

Jason Dunn

Torii gates such as this one are typically found at the entrance to Shinto shrines. The gate is said to mark the dividing line between the secular world and the sacred one.

 

FOLLOWERS

There are about four million practicing Shintoists in Japan. However, many millions more follow Shinto traditions in marriage ceremonies and other rituals. The Japanese Religions Yearbook (Shukyo Nenkan) gives the number of 100 million Japanese Shintoists. But this figure is based on an outdated system of population registration.

 

There are only a few hundred followers in Canada.

BELIEFS

At the core of Shintoism is Kami, a phenomenon that is difficult to explain. Kami can be something natural that inspires awe, such as a wave, bird, or mountain. Kami are also beings that create life, give blessing, and are the embodiment of virtue.

 

Within Shinto, the Buddha was viewed as another Kami. The Kami are benign; they sustain and protect.

 

There are no concepts that compare to the Christian beliefs in the wrath of God, or the separation of God from humanity due to sin.

Because humans receive life from the Kami, they have the essence of Kami within themselves.

 

Followers have to purify their hearts and minds during life and, in this way, hope to become Kami upon death.

 

Purity comes through worshipping the divine at shrines, as well as being truthful, doing the best possible job at work, and treating others fairly.

 

People are seen not as individuals but as part of a group that includes a person’s ancestors as well as descendants. Morality is based upon what benefits the group. This “team” approach sums up much about Japanese society.

 

Shinto’s holiest shrine is at Ise, on Ise Bay, southeastern Honshu. There, in the temple of the Sun goddess

 

 

Amaterasu (depicted above emerging from a cave), is preserved the mirror that she is supposed to have given to Jimmu, the legendary first emperor, in the 7th century BCE.

 

DIVISIONS

Jinja (Shrine Shinto) involves worship at local shrines. This is the largest Shinto group. It was the original form of the religion; its roots date back into pre-history.

 

Kyoha (Sectarian Shinto) emerged in the 19th century. There are 13 sects whose members usually worship in a church rather than a shrine.

 

Minzuko (Folk Shinto) has no formal central organization or doctrine. It is seen in local practices and rituals, such as small images by the side of the road, or agriculture rituals practiced by individual families.

 

SACRED TEXTS

Technically, there are no sacred texts, but there are some very old writings that are highly respected. The Kojiki (Record of Ancient Matters) was written about 712 CE. The Nihongi (Chronicles of Japan) was written a few years later.

 

FESTIVALS

Seasonal celebrations are held at spring planting, fall harvest, and special anniversaries of the history of a shrine or of a local patron spirit.

 

Seijin-no-hi (Adults’ day) is on January 15, when young people who have turned 20 during the past year visit a shrine.

 

Oshogatsu (New Year) is celebrated on the first to the third of January.

 

Ohinamatsuri (Girls’ festival) is on March 3.

 

Tango no Sekku (Boys’ festival) is May 5.

 

Hoshi Matsuri (Star festival) in July 7.

 

Shichi-go-san (Seven five three) is on November 15; this is when boys of five and girls of three and seven are taken to a shrine to be blessed.

 

 

Image credit

Stefano Costanzo

 

Sources used in this series

Religions in Canada, Directorate of Human Rights and Diversity, Government of Canada.

The Encyclopedia of World Religions, Robert S. Ellwood (ed.) Facts on File, 1998.

Religion for Dummies, Rabbi Marc Gellman and Monsignor Thomas Hartman, For Dummies Publishing, 2002.

Religious Tolerance, Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance

Religion, CBC Montreal

 

© Canada and the World, June 2011

All rights reserved

Many followers of Shinto are involved in the “offer a meal movement,” in which each person forgoes a meal once per month and donates the money saved to their religious organization for international relief or similar activity.

 

 

 

Many of the people who take part in Shinto rituals also follow Buddhism.