Albina Khantsis

HUMN 120
Spring 2012
 What is
Shinto?
• Shinto is a purely national Japanese religion.
• It was based on ancestors' traditions and the worship of nature.
• Shinto teaches the way of harmonious existence of men in
spiritual unity with the world.
• Crucial parts of Shinto are practices, rituals and ceremonies.
 What ARE
•There are numerousKAMI?
of spirits in Shinto called kami.
•It is believed that among them are spirits of the dead, spirits of
mountains, rocks, rivers, animals, trees, fire, wind, human
virtues, etc.
•Kami are invisibly present everywhere and are always
involved in people’s lives.
 What is A JINJA or
SHINTO SHRINE?

A big gate at the entrance is the gateway to the sacred precincts of the Shinto
Shrine. The torii represents the division between the everyday world and the
sacred shrine realm. This symbol of the Shinto Shrine is a place for a bird to
sit and sing at first sight of the sun.
 A SHINTO
SHRINE IS…
…a structure or place
whose main purpose
is to house the
Shinto kami.

… a place where all … a place of Masturi

things in Nature (festival) where Shinto
gather together, and Priests conduct rituals
their hearts and and prayers for
substance individuals, families
purified, refreshed and groups to dispel
and renewed. misfortune and open
… an enriched the path for Divine
environment where Blessings and
Divine Nature’s Life expressing
Giving Forces are appreciation to Great
commemorated like Nature.
parents.
 SHINTO AMULETS &
TALISMANS
• Omamori is yearly protective amulet imbued with
good luck, protective power, blessings. You can pray
to one omamori for one wish. Each omamori consists
of holy paper or fabric and its little bag.

• Ofuda is a type of household amulet or talisman, issued by a

Shinto shrine, and is hung in the house for protection. It is made by
inscribing the name of a kami on a strip of paper, wood, cloth, or
metal. It is believed to protect the family in the residence from
general harm, such as a disease.

•Magatama is an ancient Japanese Shinto

ornament/talisman which came from an ancient Korean
diagram representing the mother's womb, or
embryo, and hence it brings all good things, like the
blessing of a new child, growth, longevity, and
prosperity.
 SHINTO CEREMONIES

WEDDING
CEREMONY

Naked Man Ceremony for Good Luck and Good

Harvest
SHINTO
festivals
SHINTO PUREFICATION
ritual
 SUMO – A SHINTO
RITUAL
• Sumo is a sport steeped in religious ritual.
• Sumo was originally performed to entertain the gods
(kami) during festivals.
• The origins of sumo date back 2000 years.

Symbolism in Sumo:
•The sand – Purity
• The canopy – a roof of a Shrine
• The four tassels – the four seasons
 AIKIDO – SHINTO
PHILOSOPHY

• Ai (joining) KI (spirit) Do (way) reflects a Shinto cosmology.

• The powerfully flowing spiral movements of Aiki techniques are an acts
of meditation, removing the obstructions that keep practitioners from the
life giving forces.
• The Founder of Aikido, Ueshiba Morihei O’Sensei said:
“Aiki is the way of the Kami and was born of the will of
the Kami. Rise early in the morning to greet the sun. Inhale the breath of
heaven and let the cosmos inside. Next breath up the rich vibrancies of
the earth. Blend these breaths with your own breath and become the
breath of life itself. Your mind and body will be gladdened, heartache
 SHINTO & LOVE OF
Nature is NATURE
sacred. To be in contact with nature means to be
close to the Gods.

• Natural objects are

worshipped as sacred spirits

• Kami resides in nature

• Shinto shrines were

traditionally built near
waterfalls, caves, rock
formations, mountain tops, or
forest glens

• Rituals are held

outdoors, among natural
surroundings
 SHINTO &
ANCESTORS

• “They are the givers of life, the givers of wealth, and the makers and
teachers of the present
• To forget or neglect them, to treat them with rude indifference, is the proof
of an evil heart
• They represent the unwritten law, the traditions of the commune, the duties
of all to all
• They represent the mystery of the invisible: to Shinto believes they are
gods.”
(“Japan, an attempt at interpretation”, by Lafcadio Hearn; London, McMillan
Ltd. Co., 1904)
THANK YOU FOR
WATCHING MY
PRESENTATION!
REFERENCES:

1. "Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America." Tsubaki Grand Shrine of

America. Web. 20 Apr. 2012.
http://www.tsubakishrine.org/history/index.html >.
2. "Shinto, an Ancient Japanese Religion." SHINTO. Web. 20
Apr. 2012. <http://www.religioustolerance.org/shinto.htm>.
3. "SHINTO - THE WAY OF THE GODS." Cal Poly CLA. Web.
20 Apr. 2012.
<http://cla.calpoly.edu/~bmori/syll/Hum310japan/Shinto.html>.
4. Sivananda, Sri Swami. "Shintoism." The Divine Life Society.
20 Feb. 2005. Web. 20 Apr. 2012.
<http://www.dlshq.org/religions/shintoism.htm>.
5. "Shinto." ORIAS Home Page. Web. 20 Apr. 2012.
<http://orias.berkeley.edu/visuals/japan_visuals/shinto.HTM>.
6. "Shinto Rituals." Basic World Religions Information. Web. 20
Apr. 2012. <http://www.world-religions-
professor.com/shintorituals.html>.
7. Briand, Pablo. "SHINTO CULT OF ANCESTORS." Index. 24
June 2009. Web. 20 Apr. 2012.
<http://www.genbriand.com.ar/shinto_english.htm>.