Transcript Slide 1

Shinto
Japan’s Ancient Religion
Shintoism is a Polytheistic
religion that expresses love
and respect for nature.
Shinto is found in Japan!
Shintoism celebrates life
and the beauty of nature
Shintoists worship kami
KAMI
•Kami is a term for Shinto Gods and
spirits.
•Some kami are compared to the “gods”
of the west, but are different in many
ways, too.
Kami can be forces of nature, important
people, or even natural objects.
KAMI
•A special rock, a large tree, or a
waterfall, can be considered Kami.
Some prominent rocks are worshiped as kami.
Shinto
•Unlike most other religions of the
world, Shinto does not have:
•Founder
•Religious laws.
•Holy Text/Book
The Four Claims of Shinto
1.-Tradition and the family is very
important to Shinto followers
The family is seen as the main
force for traditions to be
preserved. Main celebrations
relate to birth and marriage.
The Four Claims of Shinto
2.-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
3.-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
4.-Matsuri:
The worship (festival) 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.
Torii
One or more torii gates
mark the approach and
entrance to a shrine.
They come in various
colors and are made of
various materials. Most
torii, however are made
of wood, and many are
painted orange and
black.
The Torii marks the separation between the
world we live in and the world of the Gods.
A Tunnel of Torii Gates
Inari Mt., (Kyoto, Japan)
Shinto Temple – “Worship Hall”
Quick Answer:
Yes
But in an altered form, current
Japanese religion is a
combination of Shintoism,
Buddhism, and Confucianism.