Wikipedia Tour: Major World Religions (2 of 22)
LICENSE
Wikipedia Tour: Major World Religions by DailyLit.
Licensed under GNU Free Documentation License 1.1
Shinto
[Image rights]
Shinto (Shintō?) is the native religion of Japan and was once its state religion. It is a polytheistic and animistic faith, and involves the worship of kami, or spirits. Some kami are local and can be regarded as the spiritual being/spirit or genius of a particular place, but others represent major natural objects and processes; for example, Amaterasu (the Sun goddess), or Mount Fuji.
The word Shinto [1] combines two words: kanji: "shin" (compound words use Chinese pronunciation, hence shin not kami), meaning gods or spirits; and "tō," meaning a philosophical way or path (originally from the Chinese word dao). As such, Shinto is commonly translated as "The Way of the Gods." Some differences exist between Shintoism (the ancient Shintō) and the many types of Shinto taught and practiced today, showing the influences of Buddhism when it was introduced into Japan in the sixth century.[2]
Shinto is no longer Japan's official state religion. However, it is considered the native religion of Japan. While some Shinto practices and teachings were given a great deal of prominence during World War II, they are no longer taught or practiced today. There are others, though, that still exist as commonplace activities, such as omikuji (a form of fortune-telling) and the Japanese New Year to which few people give religious connotations. Important national ceremonies such as coronations and imperial marriages are conducted at the Three Palace Sanctuaries in Tokyo.
Contents
- 1 Definition
- 2 Beliefs
- 3 Practices
- 4 History
- 5 Cultural effects
- 6 See also
- 7 References
- 8 Further reading
- 9 External links
Click here for the full article.
Wikipedia Tour: Major World Religions
Send 22 installments for free as a gift.
Wikipedia Tour: Major World Religions
Receive installments for free