Shinto - Dr. Sakashita PDF

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Dr. Sakashita...

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Indigenous religion of Japan Shinto = Way of Kami Chinese character for gods/spirits, in Japanese is written (kanji) and pronounced “Shin” or “Kami” Kami = god/spirit Kami can be people, nature, Belief that some people are closer to the divine Kami can bless the land, seas, and relationships or can be fairy-like creatures (playful with mischief) Kappa - water sprites (troublemakers) Offer a cucumber to the kappa Anything awesome = kami Kami have a sacred power - wonder or terror, prosperity or calamity, health or illness/disease (similar to yin/yang) Dao symbol means “To” in Shinto Dao (way) means “Way of the Kami”

Shinto: ● To leave world in a better, harmonious state for future generations ● No founder, teachings, or doctrine ● Focuses on worship of kami ● Kami can be elements of landscape, forces of nature, or beings and qualities that they express Shinto Shrines: ● The essence of the deities are enshrined and watched by Shinto priests ● Haksumone - wishes and prayers for year ahead to deities ● Shrines attract worshipers ● Prayers for growth of boys 3 & 5 and girls 3 & 7 ● Prays for marriage ● Wedding ceremonies at shrines ● Write prayers on wooden tablets ● Places of worship to deities of Japan’s indigenous faith ● Around 80,000 shrines in Japan ● Many Gods - 8 million

Shrine Rituals: ● Ise Jingu - important shrine (6 million annual visitors) ● Amaterasu Omikami - Sun goddess ● Izumo Taisha dedicated to Okuninushi no Mikoto (birth of nation, people together) ● Kitano Tenmangu - historical figures that are deities Parts of Shrines: ● Gate - Torii - symbols of shrines - barrier between normal life and sacred grounds ● Bow at Torii for respect ● Stay to side of stairs to not get in way of deities ● Guardian dogs - protect Gods and ward off evil ● Purification basin - wash off daily life before approaching gods ● Ladle in right hand, pour in hands and then mouth ● Worship Hall: where prayers are offered ● Gods are enshrined behind the hall ● Money into offering box - purification ● Making offering cleanses sin and impurify ● Ringing of bell summons gods and dispels evil ● Bow and clap twice at shrine before prayer, then one bow after prayer Symbols: ● Rock tied with rope to show respect for God that is there ● Over time, people built temporary alters for rites during festivals - developed permanent shrines ● Shrines are closely associated with agriculture ● Rice harvest is bestowed by deities - control natural forces (sun and rain) Shrine Architecture: ● Based on elevation in Japan since prehistoric times ● Over time, deities and shires fused ● Shrines link themselves to world and people - along with fusing with other religions Shinto: ● For awhile, Buddhism and Shinto existed symbiotically ● Futaiji - Buddhist temple with evidence of fusion of Buddhist and Shinto deities (Shinto altars and Buddhist statues) ● 19th century - movement to separate Buddhism and Shinto ● Common people’s desire to visit shrine (Esi) ● Tokaidochu Hizakurige - travel book (pilgrimage to Esi, with many mishaps) Priest Yoshihiro Egawa

Procession of sacred shrine floats - used to do every autumn, but many lost Revived for first time in 100 years Oharai / Misogi - purify self before paying respects to Kami Omamari - amulets that you can take part of power of kami with you when you leave the jinja (larger donations) A lot of people visit Jinjas on the New Year People take children to Jinja after birth and at ages 3, 5, and 7 Matsuri - events Tenjin Jinja - famous for academic success - very close to Tokyo University Only 3% of Japanese people claim to be Shinto and only 36% claim to have religion (most which are Buddhist)

Kami are outside of the ordinary and have superior power Yokai are goblins, fairies, monsters, ghosts, and odd beings Yokai is unnerving sensation that you are being followed Kasa obake - umbrella Yokai Makura-gaeshi - pillow-flipping yokai Amabie (most popular yokai) - mermaid-like creature By spreading Amabie’s picture, they can keep infectious diseases away...