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Shintoism, The Way of the Kami, harmoniously coexists with both Confucianism and Buddhism. These three traditions have been woven together into the tapestry of Japanese ethics, customs, culture, attitudes, and overall outlook on life. Ancient Shinto folk beliefs and rituals were deeply rooted in a distant past. Remains with magical significance have been discovered that are from the Jomon period around 200 BCE. The Kami Way of the gods, the indigenous faith of the Japanese people, Shintoism has neither a founder nor sacred written scriptures like the Bible or the Sutras. Instead, as old as the people themselves, Shinto is deeply rooted in Japanese traditions. Shintoism is an optimistic faith that believes all humans are intrinsically good and that all evil is caused by evil spirits. Today over four million Japanese visit Shinto shrines to pray for good fortune; to keep away evil spirits before special events; and to procure talismans. The architecture of the shrines, Noh theatre, calligraphy, and the court dance music (Gagaku) are all important features of Shintoism. Most of Shinto rituals focus on prayers, purification, and offerings to keep away evil spirits. In Shintoism everything is spiritual with no separation between the material and spiritual. There was no written code of ethics and morals, but over the centuries Confucian Confucianism ethics (the teachings of Kong Zi) were instilled into Shinto, especially during the Edo period.
For Shintoism Shinto
Festival Rites, the scale of the Festival Rites differs according to the nature
of the Festival. Grand Scale Taisai Festivals Rites include: Spring Festival to
pray for good harvest, Shinto Thanksgiving to appreciate the harvest and to
share the first harvest with Kami; and the annual festival to revere the
enshrined deity.
Medium Scale Chusai Festival Rites include: New Year's Day and a ceremony to celebrate Japan's Foundation Day Shosai are Small Scale Festival Rites include all the rest of festivals. Other miscellaneous Zassai Festival Rites include: Jotosai (a rite performed during construction of a building); Shinsosai (a funeral ceremony); and Jichinsai (a rite before constructing a building to worship the deities of a locality and the land). Rites are performed to console the animal spirits because they sometimes do mischievous things to people. In the university medical facilities of some universities, Shinto and Buddhist rites are performed to console the spirits of animals killed during experiments. Rites are preformed to purify buildings before opening a factory or a nuclear power plant to ensure that everything works safely and well. Shinto perceives the sacred in nature and the presence of deities in trees, rivers, thunder, stones, waterfalls, mountains, and valleys. The numinous Kami are worshiped, as well as, the ancestral and guardian spirits, and the spirits of national heroes. Worship of the Kami usually takes places in shrines located in the beauty of nature, but they may be revered anywhere. Local shrines where festivals take place are the focal point of the community. Every home has a Kamidana, Kami goddess god shelf, which is the focus of daily offerings and reverence.
Some Shinto virtues to be
emulated are: observation of Shinto Rites with attentiveness, purity of heart,
and authenticity; gratitude for the blessings of the Kami and the beneficence of
ancestors; and helpful service to others and the world without regard for
reward.
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Shinto Shrine Kami Way 
