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Shintoism Shinto Shrine Kami Way
Shinto Spiritual Beliefs
The Kami of natural phenomena are worshiped: Kami of the Seas, Kami of the Rivers, Kami of the Thunders, Kami of the Rains, Kami of the Mountains. It is important to perform rites for Kami since although they usually guard and bless people they can also get angry and bring misfortunes upon them.
The life of the ancient Japanese was deeply rooted in the forest. A grove itself was considered a shrine and a sacred place for the village. Jinja shrines are surrounded by sacred groves because the Kami who live in deep valleys or on steep mountains need a place to stay for awhile when they come to visit.
After being handed down from generation to generation, Shinto today is still a "religion of the forest" where the natural landscape, steep mountains, deep valleys, and even planted forests are sacred places where the Kami dwell. The people can then conduct festivals and rituals in the grace of the deity.
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.
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.
Most of Shinto rituals
focus on prayers, purification, and offerings to keep away evil spirits. Whether
at home or at a shrine, Shinto prayers follow a pattern.
Guji Kannushi Shinto Shrine Jinja in Japan
First the mouth and hands are cleansed with clean water. Then, offerings are given of food at home or coins at the shrine, bow deeply twice, clap your hands twice, bow deeply once more, and pray.
There are several educational institutions and examinations for those who want to become Shinto priests or obtain a higher priestly grade or status. Shintoism priests who perform the rituals, are private persons (male and female) who can marry and have children.
Miko in white kimonos, young unmarried ladies who are usually the priest's daughters, usually support the priests by helping them at rituals and in other tasks in the shrine.
Within the Shinto priesthood there are six grades (the Superior, the First, the Second, the Semi-Second, the Third, and the Fourth grades); and five ranks (Johkai, Meikai, Seikai, Gon-Seikai, and Chokkai).
With rare exceptions, priests must have served in shrines for more than twenty years as Shinto priests before they can be given grades above the Semi-Second.
To become a Guji, chief
priest, the priest must have obtained a rank higher than Gon-Seikai for an
ordinary shrine, and higher than Meikai to serve as the Guji of certain eminent
shrines...Go
back
Read Shintoism Shinto Articles
Creation Myth Sacred Writings,
Festivals of Shintoism,
Festival Shinto Rites,
Glossary Terminology,
Jinja Shrine Shinto,
Koshitsu Imperial House Shinto,
Minzoku Folk Shinto,
Sacred Divine Forest,
Shinto Spiritual Beliefs,
Shuha Sect Shinto,
Way of Kami Goddesses Gods
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Shamanism Shaman,
Shintoism Kami
Shintoism
Shinto Shrine Kami Way Copyright © 2002-2008 Maureen Grace Burns, Blessings Cornucopia. All Rights Reserved.
Public Domain Image Guji Kannushi Shinto Shrine Jinja in Japan, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Guji0148.jpg]. Accessed June 3, 2007.
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