Unlike other religions Shinto is
not associated with the teachings of any one particular teacher such as Jesus, Buddha, Mohamed or Confucius. Thus, in Japanese, while Buddhism
is called Buk-kyo meaning the teachings of Jesus, and Christianity
is known as Kirisuto-kyo, namely the teachings of Jesus, Shinto
or Shin-do means the way of the kami/gods. Shintoism is a word coined by
westerners:the Japanese term is Kami-no-Michi or Kami-nagara-no-Michi.
Shinto is the only Japanese
religion that is native to Japan--originating some two to three thousand years ago according to ancient chronicles
such as the Kojiki(712 CE)
and the Nihonshoki (720 CE)
Although there are no creeds, or images of the kami, Shintoism does have several tenets.
The primary emphasis is on reverence of the kami and devotion to the Imperial family.
Veneration is accorded to Amateresu the mythical
ancestress of the Japanese emperors; to ancient members of bygone royalty, and to
actual historical figures.
There are approximately thirty million Shintoist in Japan,
but many Japanese are both Shintoists and Buddhists. In modern times there are three forms of Shinto: Shrine Shinto, Sectarian Shinto and Folk Shinto.
Shinto Symbols
Shinto shrinesusually do not house statues or images of the kami to which the shrine is devoted. Most
shrines have instead a goshintai or symbol that embodies the particular kami.
perhaps the most common goshintai is a mirror (yada-no-kagami). When Amateresu the sun kami sent her a bronze mirror is therefore the most
sacred Shinto symbol and stands for purity. Other Shinto symbols include the iron sword (ame-no-murakumo-tsurugi) and the jewel.
Legend has it that when Susanoo slew the eight-headed dragon he discovered a sword in
the dragon's tail.
Other symbols of veneration include a string of comma-shaped beads--a replica of the string of beads which the kami made and hung
on a sakaki tree when they gathered outside the cave to induce Amateresu to come out of hiding.
Shinto Home Page
Shinto Shrines
Web Sites on Shinto
