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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. 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. 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.
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.
Today, 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. 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. City people visit a Shinto shrine or Buddhist temple during the first three days of a year, while, in rural areas either each house holds a ceremony to invite the deity of a year, or else the community does it on their behalf. Toso rice wine and a special meal are shared with the ancestral spirits, and people place special amulets on their house altar. An ancestral soul's day held in July or August that is an amalgam of a Buddhist festival based on Chinese Urabon sutra and the Folk Shinto faith where people visits the graves of ancestors who have been sent to the Pure Land. During the Bon Festival All the members of a clan or family get together to enjoy a meal especially prepared for the occasion.
There are many other kinds of festivals such as those to wish someone prosperity and happiness; those to
ward off misfortune or trouble; those relating to various occupations in
industry, commerce, and agriculture; those influenced by Yin-Yang thought,
Taoism, and Buddhism; and seasonal festivals like the last day of the year when
the Japanese practice the ancient custom of purification, Oharae, by
cleaning the home and surrounding area, taking a bath to cleanse themselves, and
eating Soba noodles as they wait for the arrival of the New Year.
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