How to Practice Shintoism

At one time, Shintoism was the state religion of Japan. While this religion lost its status as a state religion following World War II, its shrines, heritage, and role in holiday celebrations are still an important part of Japanese life. Almost all practitioners of Shinto are Japanese, and its somewhat amorphous construct and lack of a central document or text makes it difficult for most foreigners to understand.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Study the 4 Shinto Affirmations: to family and tradition, to sacred nature, to physical cleanliness, and to Matsuri--a worship of the Kami and ancestral spirits.

2. Study Shinto history. It began in approximately 500 BCE. Initially, it was more diverse--consisting of shamanism, hero worship, divinity cults and spirit worship. In the 8th century CE, it acquired its name, a derivation of the Chinese words, "shin tao"--"The Way Of The Gods." It is often practiced in combination with Buddhism.

3. Study various Kami. Kami are Shinto gods. Their character is different from the monotheistic concept of a god. A more appropriate translation might be spirit.

4. Read the Kojiki. This is the text of the Kami tales. It describes the creation of the Japanese islands by the divine couple Izanami-no-mikoto and Izanagi-no-mikota. It also describes how one of their daughters, Amaterasu Omikami, the Sun Goddess, was the ancestress of the Imperial Family. This is why the Japanese Emperor was divine.

5. Appreciate the great reverence that Shintoism renders nature and harmony. Shrines celebrate this harmony with each shrine being dedicated to an individual Kami. When a worshipper enters a shrine through a Tori, the worshipper moves from the world of the finite into the infinite world of the gods.

6. Study Confucianism. It is a moral code followed by most Shinto practitioners. There is no formal Shinto code of behavior.

7. Enjoy what you can of the Shinto culture--the ritual Kagura dances and holidays like shogatsu (New Year's) and Hoshi Matsuri (Star Festival). Build a Kami-dana, a home alter.

Tips & Warnings

• As should be obvious, to live a life practicing Shintoism anywhere other than Japan would be difficult because other places lack the shrines, and since most of the Kami are associated with a clan or specific geographic locality. This may be one reason why Shintoism is almost exclusively a Japanese religion.

Resources

• Brief description of Shintoism.
• More complete discussion of Shintoism.
• Description of Confucianism.