Shinto
The Way of the Kami by Caroline Charles
step through the magnificent, towering torii, stroll along the manicured pathways, and view the intricate wood craftsmanship and structures that epitomize the seamless harmony of man-made design with nature. Beyond the physical beauty of these sacred places is a religion tightly woven into the fabric of Japanese culture and steeped in tradition. Although Japan is now mostly a secular country and many do not associate with a specific religion, it remains closely connected with the Japanese value system. Shinto has directly influenced many Japanese art forms and practices including ikebana (the art of flower arranging), architecture, garden design, and even the sport of Sumo wrestling. It is the influence for the Japanese custom of taking off one's shoes before entering a home and why wrestlers throw salt to purify the arena before Sumo matches. Even anime and manga routinely draw inspiration from Shinto. The Shinto religion does not have a central founder or leader nor does it focus on the study of religious texts and dogmas. Rather, it is a compilation of deeply rooted traditions and a way of living that emphasizes a connection with nature and living in harmony with all things.
A
s you walk onto the grounds of a Shinto shrine there is a feeling of calm and grandeur as you
What is Shinto? T
he name Shinto comes from the Chinese characters “Shen” meaning spirit and “tao” meaning a philosophical path or
way. Thus, Shinto literally means “way of the spirits.” Shinto is a polytheistic religion that comprises 800,000 gods. Their ancient beliefs are based on the animistic principle that all things contain kami, or spirits. Kami is a divine essence that manifests itself in rocks, trees, rivers, animals, people, and places. Through rituals, practices and ceremonies the kami communicate with the living, respond to prayers and act as guides and protectors. This basic belief compels its followers to value harmony, coexistence, and exercise appreciation for all of nature and all of creation. Shinto is centered around the shrine, or jinja, which can be anything from a small, ornate box on the side of the road to a huge complex with many large buildings. Shrines serve the dual purpose of protecting the kami from the impurities of the surrounding world and allow people to approach the kami and ask for their assistance. A kami does not always refer to a specific god, however. A shrine could be dedicated to a mountain or to a group of rocks. This why you can often find shrines hidden in the mountains, tucked in back roads, amongst residential homes, and in tiny caves. Over hundreds of years, tens of thousands of shrines have been built all over Japan where people feel the kami have shown their power and nature. Every time you discover a shrine you are stumbling upon a little piece of history!
in Shinto. People visit shrines for festivals, for personal or spiritual reasons, or to make a particular request. This might be for good luck in an exam, protection of a family member, career success, and so on. It is perfectly acceptable for anyone of any religion, or none at all, to pay a visit to a shrine in Japan. You are not obligated to perform the rituals described herein but it is expected that you will be respectful and not disturb others while they pray or participate in ceremonies.
Visiting a Shinto Shrine P
Shinto shrines are characterized with a distinctive torii gate, often painted vermilion red, which denotes the separation between the human and the sacred world. It is customary for followers to bow before actually passing through the torii to show respect to the kami of the shrine. Shrines are also guarded by Komainu or Shishi, a pair of lion-like guardians that are placed at each side of the entrance to protect and ward off evil spirits.
18 | TWC: Shinto
eople will visit shrines and make offerings to the kami for any major or minor event in their life. There is no special day of the week for prayer
One guardian has its mouth open to scare off bad spirits and the other guardian has its mouth closed to shelter and keep in the good spirits. Every shrine includes a temizuya or chōzuya on the path to the main sanctuary. It is a small covered pavilion with a water basin and ladles for visitors to rinse their hands and mouth and symbolically purify their spirit. The water basin is usually made of stone and ladles are provided. After purifying, visitors walk down the pathway, or sandō, which leads to the shrine’s main buildings. It is best to keep a step to the right or left of the center of the pathway since many regard the very center of the path to be reserved for the kami of the shrine. At the main building there will be a long thick rope hanging from a bell in front of an altar where people will stop to pray.
Shrine buildings are made of natural materials, usually cypress, and are designed to provide a home for the particular kami to whom they are dedicated. It is very rare for shrines to contain physical statues of the spirits but they do have statues of animals such as foxes or horses. This is because animals are believed to be the messengers of the kami and are considered sacred.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36
