SHINTO: A PRIMER

The symbol of Shinto is the torii, an arch built of wood or

ORIGINS
Shin-to as a term dates from the 6th century
CE. It is the Japanese pronunciation of Shen-dao—the
Chinese name that acts an umbrella for a plethora of indigenous
Japanese spiritual practices. The traditional and some of them continue to thrive—
Japanese name for it is kami-no-michi—the Tenrikyo (Heavenly Reason Teaching) and “love
way of the “above” (the superiors or deities). Omotokyo (Great Origin Teaching), for ex- your
Shrine-centered Shinto is Shinto in its most ample. Sect Shinto may involve charismatic or neighbor
ancient form. Also ancient is what might be shamanic leaders, a formal congregational as
called “folk Shinto”: worship of household and structure, and some unique focus such as de- yourself”
village deities, appeals to shamans for heal- votion to Mt. Fuji or emphasis on healing (as
ing, and purification customs. Shinto had no with Tenrikyo).
need to define itself until Buddhism made its Shinto is a fascinating topic for study in its
way into Japanese culture. On the one hand, own right, but also, an understanding of Shinto
Shinto accomodated itself to Buddhism, and is an important adjunct for understanding Japa-
Confucianism; on the other, Shinto provided nese Buddhism.
a vehicle for preservation of a distinct Japa-
nese identity in the face of Western and Chi-
nese influences. BELIEFS
From the 14th century onward came calls The Shinto worldview features reverence for
for Shinto to cleanse itself of accretions of Chi- nature and emphasis on beauty. Beyond this,
nese and Buddhist ritual and belief, culminat- there is little emphasis on doctrine. In the
ing in the establishment of State Shinto in 1868. Shinto worldview, Japan is a creature born
In the State Shinto worldview, the Emperor of to cosmic parents: Izanami (the female who
Japan was a descendent of Amaterasu (the Sun invites) and Izanagi (the male who invites).
Goddess). State Shinto was dismantled after As is typical of indigenous religions, ele-
World War II. but “Imperial Family Shinto” (its ments of the natural order are regarded as
replacement), shrine Shinto, and folk Shinto deities. Interestingly, Shinto sees the sun as
still inform Japanese culture. female and the moon as male. (For other
In addition to State Shinto, the 19th century indigenous religions, the reverse is more
CE gave birth to many forms of “sect Shinto”, typical.) As the creature of cosmic parents,
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Japan is a “this-worldly heaven”—at once a the torii is a roofed water-trough for ritual
creature and the home of divine spirits— cleansing. When one visits a Shinto shrine
and the human task is to main equilibrium for worship, one enters the jinja by passing
with the heavenly. Thus much attention is under the torii. One stops at the receptacle
paid to ritual purity: pollution (tsumi) comes of water to wash one’s hands and mouth.
from contact with death; purity is restored One then bows, donates a coin, an claps
via washing and other ritual acts. one’s hands to get the kami’s attention. One
Shinto emphasizes sensitivity to the pow- bows again, then offers prayers (silently or
ers of the natural world. Humanity and bodily aloud). One bows yet again, then leaves.
life are fundamentally good—as are sexuality Plaques or papers containing prayer re-
and fertility. The focus is on life, and on coun- quests may be tied to a sacred sakaki tree.
teracting anything that brings sickness and The priest may wave a wand with streamers
death. This means that, not only should physi- as an act of purification.
cal pollutants be removed, but human rela- Priestly blessings may take place away
tionships likewise should be kept healthy and from the shrine as well. For example, a priest
pure. Thus Shinto emphasizes sincerity, ful- may be called to bless a wedding, or a new
fillment of obligations, and apology for errors. home, a new baby, a new job, the purchase
Shinto teaches that Kami are everywhere. of a new automobile, the fact that a journey
They are personified, named, and ap- or an exam is to be taken. There are rituals
proached with reverence. Kami may be na- to be performed at gravesites, but—given
ture spirits, familial ancestors, or the spirits of Shinto’s antipathy for death—Shinto funerals
deceased emperors, saints, or heroes. are reserved for the emperor. (Funerals for
everyone else are left to Buddhist practice.)
PRACTICE One Shinto practice, called misogi, in-
volves ritual purification by standing under a
Some Shinto practices are home-centered. waterfall. Another involves scaling Mount Fuji.
The family maintains a kamidan (a home The love of ceremony and emphasis on
shrine)—either inside the house or in the nature characteristic of Shinto is carried over
garden—where offerings of rice and water into Japanese arts (painting, architecture, Noh
are made to the resident kami. Other Shinto theater, gagku music), with their emphasis on
practices require a visit to one of Japan’s symmetry and simplicity. Ritualized tea-drink-
85,000 jinja (Shinto shrines). Jinja may mark ing and arts reflect the notion that beauty and
a natural phenomenon, an historical event, precision counteract pollution.
or devotion to a particular person. Each
shrine has a kami—which may be a natural
object or a famous person. Two of the most
WRITINGS
famous are Ise (the Sun Goddess Shrine) and Shinto has no official scriptures. The nar-
Tsubaki (the Earth God Shrine). Shrine ratives of Shinto oral tradition began to take
worship has four components: purification, written form in the 8th century CE. Kojiki is
offering, prayer, and (occasionally) symbolic the chronicle of ancient events. Nihongi is
feasting by drinking rice wine. Some shrines the chronicle of Japan.
house a sacred object, but these remain
hidden. If there is a building, it is likely to
have a small hall in which the kami resides
HOLIDAYS
(and which is off limits to visitors) and a Shinto includes observances marking the
larger hall where prayers may be said. arrival of New Year (December 31-January
Characteristically, one enters a Shinto shrine 3) with a thorough house-cleaning; the ag-
through a torii (a gate featuring two uprights ricultural seasons are also marked with spe-
and two crossbars); in fact, there may be a cial rituals, and there are annual fertility rites.
series of torii through which to pass. Near Matsuri are shrine-festival days.