Daoic Religions:: Shintoism

DAOIC RELIGIONS:
Shintoism
IN THIS LESSON....
• Identify the different concepts and
doctrines of Shintoism.
• Explains Shintoism’s belief that the
goal of every human being is to
become part of the natural realm
through purification rites.
• Writes a reflection paper on the
teaching of Shintoism.
INTRODUCTION
• Shintoism is considered as the very
essence of Japanese devotion to unseen
spiritual beings and powers. It is a very
local kind of religion in that it is focused
on the land of Japan, hence an “ethnic
religion” that is not interested in
missionary activities so as to spread it
outside Japan.
INTRODUCTION
• Shintoism espouses the belief that
“human beings are basically good and
has no concept of original sin.” Unlike
other religions, it has no known founder
nor god, and it may be practiced with
other religions such as Buddhism and
Daoism.
SHINTOISM
• During the prehistoric period in Japan,
animism was evident in the agricultural
affairs of the people. Agricultural rites
were celebrated seasonally and all
communal religious activities were
focused on objects or places believed to
be inhabited by kami or spirits.
SHINTOISM
• Later on, adherents formulated
rituals and stories for them to
make sense of their universe, such
as creation stories regarding Japan
and its natural elements, thereby
creating their own sense of
cultural and spiritual worlds
SHINTOISM
• The “Story of Creation,” which narrates that in the
beginning there were two kami, Izanagi-no-Mikoto
(male) and Izanamino-Mikoto (female). It was said
that after Izanagi’s creative work on earth, he went
up to heaven while Izanami was left permanently
on earth as the queen of the lower world.
According to the myth, Amaterasu-o-mi-kami, the
goddess of the sun, came out of Izanagi’s left eye
while Tsukiyomi-no-Mikoto came out of his right
eye, and Susa-no-Wo-no-Mikoto came from his
nostrils.
SHINTOISM
• Amaterasu-Omikami, who is
believed to have come from the left
eye of the sky god Izanagi, is
considered the sun goddess and the
ancestor of the Japanese imperial
family, with Emperor Jimmu Tenno,
Amaterasu’s great grandson, as the
first emperor of Japan.
SHINTOISM
• Amaterasu-Omikami, who is
believed to have come from the left
eye of the sky god Izanagi, is
considered the sun goddess and the
ancestor of the Japanese imperial
family, with Emperor Jimmu Tenno,
Amaterasu’s great grandson, as the
first emperor of Japan.
SHINTOISM
• The term “Shinto” came from “Shentao/Shendao”,
shen means divine beings or kami and dao means
“the way,” hence Shintoism means “the way of the
kami.” The term first appeared in the Nihongi and
Kojiki (or probably much earlier). It was used in
order to help distinguish kami-no-michi (the
Japanese Way of the Gods), from Butsudo (Buddha-
Tao). This took place during the 6th century, with the
introduction of Buddhism.
SHINTOISM
• Shinto persisted even when
Buddhism and Confucianism
were introduced, spread, and
became a major
religion/philosophy in Japan.
SHINTOISM
• During the Meiji Restoration, Shintoism was
organized and became completely separated with
Buddhism, which was banned and reorganized. It
was then when Shintoism became the official state
religion. It was during this period when the Japanese
people were compelled to participate in Shinto
ceremonies as a manifestation of patriotism. It was
only abolished as a state religion after the defeat of
Japan in 1945, but followers of this religion
continued to increase, with the total number of its
adherents amounting to 80 million (Brown 1994).
SHINTOISM
SACRED SCRIPTURES
• The Kojiki and Nihongi are considered as sacred
scriptures on Shinto, although they are not
exclusively about Shinto; they also contain extensive
information on Buddhism and Confucianism. These
books, which are compilations of ancient myths and
traditional teachings, are considered to have a dual
purpose: a political as well as a moral purpose.
SHINTOISM
• WORSHIP AND OBSERVANCES
• Unlike other religions, Shintoism has no weekly service; instead,
people visit shrines at their own convenience.
• They hold most of their rituals at the shrines, which they believe
are the abode of the kami or spirits. At first, shrines were normal
things that can be found in nature such as mountains, rivers, trees,
rocks, etc., but later on they built shrines dedicated to their deities.
• Shinto Rites of Passage - rites of passage observed by the Shintoists
from birth to death
• Ritual Purification (Meditative Practices) - all members of the
family go into the water together to cleanse themselves in a
purification bath.
SHINTOISM
• CONCEPTS AND BELIEFS
• Kami Worship
• Shintoism is a religion which revolves around the belief in and
worship of kami or spirits. Scholars agree that the concept of kami
is difficult to explain, and that even the Japanese themselves who
are Shinto believers cannot provide a definite definition of kami.
• Concept of Pure and Impure
• It is very important in Shintoism to maintain physical, external,
and material purity. For example, blood is regarded as impure.
Shintoism strongly disapproved of the pollution of blood.
•
SHINTOISM
• Concept of Death
• Death is considered as the worst form of impurity in Shintoism.
When a person dies, his or her body is considered as the most
impure thing. That is why they perform ritual bathing after a
funeral ceremony wherein all family members do a ritual bathing
in the river.
• De/Virtue
• The way to appease the kami or the spirits, according to Shinto, is
through purification. Shintoists value the virtues of beauty, truth,
goodness, and morality

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