Shinto

712, "Chronicles of Ancient Events". Shinto texts. Izanagi (he who invites) and Izanami (she who invites) created Japanese islands. After the production of the islands, the couple produced many kami.

Izangi: he who invites
Izanami: she who invites
Bother created Japanese islands.
Death of Izanami: the birth of the fire god killed her. She went to the land of the dead. Isanagi sought her on the corrupt land of the lead. He polluted himself, ceremonial cleansing was required for him. From this act of cleansing, other kami were created. Kojiki.  

the sun goddess. her grandson rules islands, Jimmu Tenno. Important Kami "shining in heaven".

7th c BCE. First human emperor of Japan. He was a human with a kami nature. Grandson of Amaterasu. Ancestor of all imperial houses. Able to communicate with the sun goddess. (grandmother)

communion with the kami

Both supported by Emperor Shotoku. Shinto helped Japanese relate to the natural environment. Buddhism provided for life after death. Kami identified with bodhisattvas. 

"military warrior-way". warrior code of honor. Based on Daoist and Zen Buddhist concepts. Governed the samurai, the feudal military class. Absolute loyalty of warrior to his lord. Demanded ritual suicide for failure (harakiri).

18th c CE. Leading scholar. Shinto surpassed all encompassed all religions. Buddha and Confucius are kami. Japan was superior to other countries. All should give allegiance to the Mikado, the Japanese emperor. 

19th c. Shinto as a state religion. Goal=modernization, westernization. 1868=emperor Meiji takes throne. Ended the samurai era. Ended state patronage of Buddhism, restored power to the emperor, created constitution and legislature, opened Japan to foreign trade, made Shinto a state religion.    

Jinja Sinto. Emphasized ancestor veneration. Identified with the emperor, the government, and patriotism. Included most Shinto shrines and rituals, placed all shrines under Bureau of Shrines. All Japanese were required to register at a shrine. 

pilgrimage place. Ontakekyo. Sect that worshiped nature or sacred site. Shinto sect. 

a spiritual group. Teaching of the heavenly reason. Shinto sect that sought health and well-being. Formed by peasant woman Miki. 

Spirit-shelf. High shelf on which rests a mini shrine with a mirror inside. In Japanese homes. Contemporary Japanese worship. 

to be human means that Japanese are potentially kami. By acting heroically, they can become kami. Individual is never isolated. Always part of an extended family and a national people. Expected to do their best for all these groups. Cosmic harmony is main goal. Disharmony with the kami is basic human problem. What causes disharmony: individualism view of nature as lifeless material, forgetting ancestors and heroes, loss of national pride.  

Ise. Simple structure of unpainted cedar. Symbols of Amaterasu: mirror, sword, string of stone jewels. Shrine is rebuilt every 20 years.