What is the origin of the word Shinto?
The term Shinto derives from two Chinese characters meaning spirit or god and way road or path. This combination first appeared in Japan during the 8th century within texts like the Kojiki and Nihon shoki.
Questions about Shinto
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who are the deities known as kami in Shinto?
Deities known as kami inhabit all things including natural forces like wind rain fire and sunshine. They also reside in dead humans who become protective ancestral spirits and some kami are malevolent causing illness or sudden death if warnings about good conduct are ignored.
When does the Aoi Matsuri festival take place in Kyoto?
The Aoi Matsuri festival held on the 15th of May prays for an abundant grain harvest at shrines in Kyoto. Spring festivals called harae incorporate prayers for good harvests sometimes involving ceremonies where rice is ritually planted.
How many public shrines exist across Japan today?
Around 100,000 public shrines exist across Japan with about 80,000 affiliated with the Association of Shinto Shrines. Since the late 1940s shrines must be financially self-sufficient relying on donations to pay wages maintain buildings and contribute to disaster relief funds.
Why was State Shinto established during the Meiji era?
During the Meiji era from 1868 to 1912 Japan's nationalist leadership expelled Buddhist influence forming State Shinto. Citizens were encouraged to worship the emperor as a divine figure within this system before it was formally separated from the state following World War II.