Shinto:The Way of the Gods

Shinto: The Way of the Gods

By N. Alice Yamada

Cheif of Staff

ods still inhabit the island country of Japan. Although Japan has experienced a rapid change of environment due to a gust of modernization, the Japanese feel the same presence of gods, in their modern lives, that they had felt in the ancient days. Shinto, written as the Way of the Gods, is a native religion of Japan that encompasses the poetic reality of senses, which is a part of basic Japanese principles of life. According to the Kojiki, the mythological chronology of Japan, the gods of the Shinto religion are believed to have created Japan as their image of paradise on earth, and the ruler of Japan, the Emperor, is a direct descendent of the Sun-goddess Amaterasu.

Shinto combines with the civil rule of Japan as well as many other aspects of daily life. The emperor is respected and honored by every member of the nation. Throughout history, emperors have experienced many fluctuations in power. There are over a hundred enormous shrines dedicated to the past emperors. The Heian Shrine, a relatively new addition to the list, was built in 800 AD as one of the largest shrines.

A large gate greets the visitors as they enter into the holy realm.

Intricate detail is found in everywhere from paintings to architecture.

White sand marks the territory as where the gods are present.

The Japanese take great pride in such architectural accomplishments, and these buildings are preserved as the nation's cultural treasures.
Numerous Shinto festivals are held throughout the year in order to assimilate the gods into the daily life of each Japanese citizen. In these ceremonies, gods are brought to presence; that presence is honored and celebrated, and blessings are sought for. These practices of ritual by the mass keeps the gods alive. Every Japanese lives with ritual as a custom. Shinto has survived in modern Japan because of this perfect assimilation into Japanese custom. Much like the hand shake being a natural custom, a prayer or Norito, and offerings to the god by a high official of the Shinto religion, is a natural custom when building a new skyscraper. When businesses start, they look into the Shinto calendar for a lucky day when all the gods will work in the favor of the business owner. Many families have kami-dana, the Shelf of Gods, where a model of the holiest center of shrines is depicted. A mirror is placed in the center, and gods are connected to the Kami-danas through these mirrors.
Although the Shinto ritual involves more than the religious practice in the shrines, some of the most important rituals take place in the shrines. The shrines are marked by Torii, special gateways for the gods. When entering these Torii, the visitor leaves the finite world and enters the infinite world of the immeasurable powers of the gods. During the visit, the believer will purify himself of all dirtiness and then returns to the finite world through the Torii.
Some of the rituals that one may participate within a shrine includes the watching of a Kagura, a dance with music performed by ancient instruments. The dancers are specialized holy dancers. When girls perform, they must be virgins, and relatively young of age. Masked dances by men as well as single man dances are also common, although the performance quantity is proportional to the amount of offerings given by the audience.

Within the shrine, many gods are honored, although the main shrine, which is the biggest and the most respective, is usually the god the shrine is specially dedicated to honoring. White rocks cover all the pathways, and it is common for shrines to have rivers or lakes flowing by the walkways. A special type of wood is used to build the housings for the gods, and is renewed once in every specified time. Many dedicated believers and followers of the Shinto religion work very hard to keep the shrines very clean, since cleanliness is a trait very favored by the gods.

The chrisnathemum shown in the center above is the crest of the emperor's family.

The religious doctrine behind Shinto creates a flexibility to suit many types of individuals and reflects on the needs of the agricultural days. Known as the doctrine of Yorozu-yomi, there are gods for everything and anything, from food to rivers to rocks. One can choose to worship any god in any region. However, to unite the gods, the Sun-goddess, Amaterasu, is given the highest respect. The Great Ise Shrine in the east coast of Japan is dedicated to her. Her brother, Susano-no-mikoto, is also a great hero in mythology, and he is thought to have descended from heaven to roam the earth. His journey includes the slaying of a great evil dragon, and the sword he held in the battle is preserved in one of the three major shrines of Japan - Atsuta Shrine. The Ise Shrine also holds his belonging, the mirror which acted as his shield.
As in the Kami-dana, the mirror, with its reflection has a special effect on the Japanese. Many historical buildings are found where lakes and rivers offer another version of the buildings in its reflection.

Here, Kinkakuji, the Golden Temple combines the Buddhist style of architecture to the Shinto doctrine of reflections. A similar use of reflections are seen in this building:

The Shinto religion places a great importance in nature, in purity, and in tranquility. Cleanliness is a main factor, and the gods are pictured as disliking insincerity and disorder. Shinto emphasizes right practice, sensibility, and attitude over conceptual understanding of the universe and holiness, respect for nature is permeated throughout the society in Japan. Nature, in its unmeasurable power and beauty, is understood as the manifestation of divine power. A rainstorm is provoked and halted by honoring the gods; there is no reasoning necessary. The power of nature lies in the hands of the gods, and to drive the forces of nature to the favorable side is only possible through seeking blessings from the divine.

Since Japan's earliest days, Shinto has been the code of honor and action for the Japanese. It gives the Japanese citizens customs, doctrines, and a general respect for purity, sincerity, and cleanliness. Through successful assimilation into the daily life of Japan, Shinto will continue to be a part of the Japanese culture.