WHAT IS SHINTO ? :
WHAT IS SHINTO ? “Shin” = god/spirit
“to” = path/way
“Shinto” = the way of Gods
DEFINITION :
DEFINITION A form of animism (variant of Shamanist religion)
Worship of “kami” (spirits)
Afterlife is not a primary concern
Meant to meditate the relations of human beings and kami
Great love and reverence to nature
KAMI :
KAMI Natural objects and creatures
Guardians of particular areas
Exceptional people, including all but the last of the emperor
Abstract creative forces
Popular Kami: sun-goddesess Amaterasu
FOUR AFFIRMATIONS :
FOUR AFFIRMATIONS Tradition and family
Love of nature
Physical cleanliness
“Matsuri” (festivals dedicated to “kami”)
PRACTICES :
PRACTICES Each shrine is dedicated to one “Kami”
“Tori”: special gateways for God
“Misogi”: the washing of bodies in a river near the shrine
Animals: messenger of God -> “Koma-inu”: guard dogs face each other within temple ground.
“Ogami”: paper of the spirits