This essay will discuss Shinto, the original Japanese ‘religion’, its central tenets and its philosophies. Shinto itself was originally an amorphous mix of nature worship, fertility cults, divination techniques, hero worship, and shamanism.
Shinto (or kami no michi “Way of the Gods”) is the name attributed to the non-Buddhist religious practices of Japan. Its name was derived from the Chinese words “shin tao” (“The Way of the Gods”) in the eighth century CE. Today it is thought of as being the indigenous religion of Japan, however, it was formed from various local Japanese religious practices prior to written Japanese history and evolved over hundreds of years, which has been influenced by Buddhism and Chinese religions.[i] “Shintō has no founder, no official sacred scriptures in the strict sense, and no fixed dogmas, but it has preserved its guiding beliefs throughout the ages.”[ii] It also has no body of religious law, and only a very loosely organized priesthood. “Modern day Shinto is better viewed as a cultural mindset than as a religion.”[iii]
Shinto has no absolute commandments, and it recognizes no supreme all-powerful deity. It is a diverse set of traditional rituals and ceremonies; today it has a strong focus on ritual purity, and involves honoring of the Kami, or gods/spirits that are primarily associated with nature such as trees, animals, the sun etc.[iv] There are four affirmations of the Shinto spirit, which are: the family, nature, physical cleanliness (or purity), and matsuri which refers to festivals dedicated to the Kami.[v] Shinto emphasizes makoto no kokoro (“heart of truth”) as the basic attitude toward life; purification is stressed in order to produce such a state of mind.[vi]
“Shinto is not a religion which controls behaviours or believers according to a doctrine or commandment, but a faith that let people have direct contact with Kami (the deity/deities) through worship and thus let to try to keep their way of life rightfully and pray for a blessing from kami.”[vii]
Kotodama is a central concept in Shinto, and it refers to the belief that mystical powers dwell in words and names. Some of the English translations include “soul of language”, “spirit of language”, “power word”, and “sacred sound”. Shinto believe in the spiritual power of words; according to ancient belief, beautiful and correct words bring about good, whereas ugly and harsh words bring about evil.[viii]
Unlike many religions, Shinto did not develop an explicit religious philosophy, or a specific moral code. One ancient chronicle states “in their world myriad spirits shone like fireflies and every tree and bush could speak.”[ix] This ‘religion’ encouraged people to become one with nature. One of the fundamental virtues of Shinto ethics is in regards to purity: physical purity, and spiritual purity. “The term philosophy has been considered somewhat misleading in reference to Japanese thought, since Japanese pre-modern thinking tended to be directed more toward the realm of existence than toward that of essence.”[x]
There is a great respect for the world, nature, and other people. Shinto is tied very closely to nature, and it reflects that in the way that in its myths and beliefs. Modern Shinto is not one structure, but in fact a collection of local or regional shrine practices and festivals that have historical overlays of consistency. The customs and values of Shinto are undividable from those of the Japanese culture.[xi] The ‘religion’ is part of the culture, and that in itself makes it difficult to research. Where does Shinto end and the culture begin? Where is the line drawn? Many Shinto ideals are seen every day, such as in flower arranging (ikebana), sumo wrestling, and garden design. Shinto is fairly complex.
[i] Wikipedia, ‘Shinto’, 12 June 2009. Online at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinto
[ii] Encyclopaedia Britannica Standard Edition, ‘Shinto’, 2005.
[iii] Robert Osazuwa Ness, ‘Shinto’, 30 April 2007. Online at http://www.tomhume.org/2007/04/shinto_and_ubic.html
[iv] Beliefnet, ‘Shinto’, viewed on 14 June 2009. Online at http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Shinto/index.aspx
[v] Amit Loiwal, ‘What are the basic tenets of Shintoism?’, 4 Feb 2007. Online at http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1559178.cms
[vi] Encyclopaedia Britannica Online, ‘Shinto’, 2009. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/540856/Shinto
[vii] Shinto Online Network Association, ‘Jinja Shinto’, 2005-2006. Online at http://jinja.jp/english/s-4d.html
[viii] Encyclopaedia Online, ‘Koto-dama’, 2009. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/322871/koto-dama
[ix] Paul Watt, ‘Religion and Philosophy: Shinto’, FOCUS, fall 1982, The Asia Society.
[x] Encyclopaedia Britannica Standard Edition, ‘Japanese Philosophy’, 2005.
[xi] Wikipedia, ‘Shinto’, 12 June 2009.
