Transcript Slide 1
Shinto
Japan’s Ancient Religion
Shintoism is a Polytheistic
belief that expresses love
and respect for nature.
Comparison to the “West”
•Paganism in Europe
•Many tribal beliefs in Africa
•Practices of native cultures in
North and South America
Shintoism celebrates life
and the beauty of nature
Shintoist worship kami
KAMI
•Kami is a general term for Shinto deities
and spirits.
•Some kami are compared to the “gods”
of the west, but are different in many
ways, too.
Kami can also be forces of nature,
important people, or even natural objects.
KAMI
•A special rock, a large tree, or a
waterfall, can be considered Kami.
•The emperor of Japan was
considered a Kami.
Shinto
•Unlike most other religions of the
world, Shintoism has NO:
•Identifiable founder
•Body of religious laws.
•Written scriptures or Holy Text
•A very loosely organized
priesthood
The Four Affirmations of Shinto
Tradition and the family:
The family is seen as the main
force for traditions to be
preserved. Main celebrations
relate to birth and marriage.
The Four Affirmations of Shinto
Love of nature:
Nature is sacred; to be in contact
with nature is to be close to the
Gods. Natural objects are
worshipped as sacred spirits
The Four Affirmations of Shinto
Physical cleanliness:
Followers of Shinto take baths, wash
their hands, and rinse out their
mouth often. Shinto stresses
purifying that which is unclean, such
as dirt, wounds, and disease.
Touching the dead is considered
unclean.
The Four Affirmations of Shinto
Matsuri:
The worship given to the kami and
the ancestral spirits.
• Shintoists build
shrines
dedicated to
specific kami.
• The kami
respond to
sincere prayers
of the faithful.
• Shrine
ceremonies
include
cleansing,
offerings,
prayers, and
dances.
► According to ________
Shinto
teachings every
thing in nature has spirits.
kami
► These sprits called ________
are believed
to keep people safe and help them live.
►They build shrines called gates and perform
blessings
cermoines to ask for ____________.
Torii Gate
When entering a shrine, one passes through a
Torii
The Torii marks the separation between the
finite world and the infinite world of the Gods.
Torii Gate
A Tunnel of Torii Gates
Inari Mt., Kyoto
Torii Gong
Shinto Temple – “Worship Hall”
Quick Answer:
Yes
But in an altered form, current
Japanese religion is a
combination of Shintoism,
Buddhism, and Confucianism.