Skip to main content

What is Shinto? An Overview of Ancient Japanese Mythology

Shinto began in ancient times as a shamanistic practice of nature worship much like the early druids. As outside cultural and spiritual influences came to Japan, what started as a loosely formed nature cult grew into a religion that has acquired many followers and greatly impacted world culture.
Shintoism is a religion that is strongly connected to teachings of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. Shinto belief borrows much from the teachings of these sister religions, but still it remains unique in its structure. Without great study of Shintoism, one could easily see the influence from Buddhist and Toaist temples by looking at a Shinto shrine. In Japan it is common to see statues of Koma-inu placed outside of Shinto shrines. Koma-inu are guardians against evil that strongly resemble the Chinese guardian lions found outside Buddhist temples. To further show the importance of Chinese Taoism in the inspiration for Shinto beliefs, the word Shinto adopts the Chinese word Tao which translates as the way or path. Shin-Tao means the way of the gods.
When looking at the Shinto faith, it's important to understand that while it is called the way of the gods, it is a vastly different concept than Western teachings of and understandings of 'god.' Where many religions argue the supremacy of their gods and the notion of obedience to a supreme being, Shintoism focuses more on respect, peace, and harmony. Western religion presents a deity to be worshipped, while Shinto supports the belief in, and honor of a spiritual life force in all things.
The word Kami is used to describe the spiritual entities and life forces found in nature. The concept of Kami is similar to that of the Tao as it represents a spiritual element in the universe and a fundamental foundation of natural existence. Kami essentially means spirit, and it is believed that Kami take forms of natural objects and elements. In Shinto, every tree, mountain, river, gust of wind, and flash of lightening is said to be manifestation of sacred kami. Additionally, when a person dies, they are said to become kami and are honored in ceremonies of ancestor worship.
Shinto is unique in that it does not have the strict structures of other religions. In fact, shintoism does not even have a designated originator or a holy scripture. There are old texts on Shinto belief and practice such as the Kojiki, however, there is no original document at the center of the faith. This differs greatly from Western religions with their bible, and Taoism with its Tao Te Ching. Furthermore, Shinto does not place special importance on any one historical individual; no Lao Tzu, no Jesus, no Buddha. Instead of focusing on a central mythical character or story, Shinto offers a view of spiritualism and mysticism within the structure of nature. It is this mysticism and mystery that makes Shintoism a truly fascinating religion.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How to Increase Strength: The Best Exercises

Strength training is important for athletes of all kinds and anyone interested in fitness and overall health. It's important to know what exercises are best for your fitness goals. Some workouts are best for burning calories others for building muscle and some are designed for adding strength and endurance. Here are some of the best exercises to increase strength. Increase Arm Strength Twenty-Ones for stronger biceps: One of the best bicep workouts, twenty-ones push your arms to their limits. Begin with dumbbells that are a challenging weight but not too heavy (you're going to have to do 21 reps.) First perform a standard curl, but stop half way and hold for a second. Lower and repeat for 7 reps. On the last rep, hold at the halfway point and then do 7 reps the rest of the way up toward your shoulders. Don't let the weights drop below the halfway point. You are doing half reps at the bottom and then the top. Next bring the weights a...
Post a Comment
Read more

What is Shinto? An Overview of Ancient Japanese Mythology Spiritualism, Mysticism, and the Kami

Shinto began in ancient times as a shamanistic practice of nature worship much like the early druids. As outside cultural and spiritual influences came to Japan, what started as a loosely formed nature cult grew into a religion that has acquired many followers and greatly impacted world culture. Shintoism is a religion that is strongly connected to teachings of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. Shinto belief borrows much from the teachings of these sister religions, but still it remains unique in its structure. Without great study of Shintoism, one could easily see the influence from Buddhist and Toaist temples by looking at a Shinto shrine. In Japan it is common to see statues of Koma-inu placed outside of Shinto shrines. Koma-inu are guardians against evil that strongly resemble the Chinese guardian lions found outside Buddhist temples. To further show the importance of Chinese Taoism in the inspiration for Shinto beliefs, the word Shinto adopts the Chinese word Tao which translate...
Post a Comment
Read more

A Brief Look at the Eventful Life of Samuel Tilden

Samuel Jones Tilden was born in New Lebanon, New York in 1814. He was educated at Yale University and the University of the city of New York. He was admitted to the bar in 1841. [1]  Tilden became an outstanding corporation lawyer, who mastered the complexities of reorganizing and refinancing railroads. He amassed a fortune in fees, which he augmented by shrewd  investments  in railroads, iron mines, and real estate. [2] Tilden had shown leadership ability early in his political career. An ardent Jacksonian in the 1830's, Tilden became a leader in the 1840's of the Barnburners. [3]  "The Barnburners were a radical element of the Democratic party in New York State from 1842 to 1848. The name derives from the fabled Dutchman who burned his barn to rid it of rats; by implication, the Barnburners would destroy corporations and public works to do away with the abuses they foster". [4]  This alliance illustrated Tilden's commitment to the abolition of corruption. ...
Post a Comment
Read more