Shintoism

By Roman S.and Trey C.

History of the Religion

• Shintoism is an old Japanese religion.• It began in Japan about 500BCE.

• Today there are about 2.8 to 3.2 million followers worldwide.

Shinto Festivals

• An important part the Shinto new year is Hatsumode.

• The Shintoists place flowers and food in front of an altar as a gift to nature.

• The Shinto Thanksgiving of is a day the Shinto people are happy for what they have.

Shinto Rituals

• Miya mairi is the time of birth for a child.

• The baby receives its soul at birth.

• This is one of the few Shinto rituals.

Shinto Objects and Symbols

–This is the Torii, which is placed at all Shinto shrines. It means “bird dwelling”. The cross beams represent bird wings reaching to the heavens.

– “Shin” means divine– “Tao” means way– The three treasures of Shinto are the

sword, the mirror, and jewels.

Basic Beliefs

• Shintoism is Polytheistic, (meaning it has many beliefs).

• Shinto is the Chinese name for the Japanese phrase Kami no michi, meaning the way of Kami.

• Kami is nature.• There is no fixed dogma or body of belief. • The Shintoists do not believe in a superior.• The Shinto follow the spirits, or deities, of nature or

Kami.

Shinto Shrines and Holy Books

• There are no Shinto Holy books.• However, there is the Kojiki that tells of

tells of ancient matters, such as creation.

• There is also the Nihon Shoki, the Japanese chronicles.

• The Grand Shrine of Ise is the most respected Shinto shrine.