what are the beliefs of the Shinto religious
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Shinto is the indigenous religion of Japan and has existed since before recorded history. The earliest writings that reference beliefs that are held by the Shinto religion date from the 8th century but it was not unified into Shinto at that time and was just an unorganized collection of local beliefs. It was not until the Nara and Heian periods that those beliefs were collected and organized into the religion that we now know as Shinto.
Shinto is a little bit difficult to understand initially for westerners. Indeed, I still don't have a real great understanding of it but I will try and use my limited knowledge as well as Wikipedia to help me put this answer together.
There are 5 main components that make up the Shinto religion. Those are the concepts of Kami, purity, the afterlife, shrines, and common practices. I will try to explain each of those to the best of my ability.
Kami
The concept of Kami doesn't have a direct, single word definition in English but it can be described as god, spirit, or spiritual essence.
What are the beliefs of Shintoism?
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Joel Postma, Unknowable
Updated Nov 15, 2017
Shinto is the indigenous religion of Japan and has existed since before recorded history. The earliest writings that reference beliefs that are held by the Shinto religion date from the 8th century but it was not unified into Shinto at that time and was just an unorganized collection of local beliefs. It was not until the Nara and Heian periods that those beliefs were collected and organized into the religion that we now know as Shinto.
Shinto is a little bit difficult to understand initially for westerners. Indeed, I still don't have a real great understanding of it but I will try and use my limited knowledge as well as Wikipedia to help me put this answer together.
There are 5 main components that make up the Shinto religion. Those are the concepts of Kami, purity, the afterlife, shrines, and common practices. I will try to explain each of those to the best of my ability.
Kami
The concept of Kami doesn't have a direct, single word definition in English but it can be described as god, spirit, or spiritual essence. Essentially, everything in nature, including people, can have the spirit of Kami and stems from the Shinto belief that everything is linked together and not separate. In fact, the Japanese say that there are 8 million Kami. Although, it is more helpful to focus on the idea that there are a large number of Kami rather than the actual number of 8 million. That number is simply used to describe a myriad of Kami.
Kami can be found everywhere, but there are areas that are considered more sacred than others. Those areas are often located near natural areas of beauty such as mountains, waterfalls, or uniquely shaped rock outcroppings. Often a shrine is built in order to house the Kami in these sacred areas.
Shinto promotes the idea of a natural order or the way things should be. This idea is called Kannagara. This includes what is considered the right way to live and focuses on sincerity, honesty, and purity.
Amenominakanushi is the concept of the very first Kami to exist before time, sort of like a creator, and can be translated as the heavenly ancestral god of the originating heart of the universe.
Purity
Shinto believes that certain actions can cause a person to become impure. There are certain purity rites called Harae that are performed either daily, weekly, seasonally, annually, or that are based on the lunar cycle. These rites are performed to cleanse impurity but are done to gain peace of mind and good fortune rather than out of a sense of guilt.
The Afterlife
The afterlife generally contains negative connotations and is seen as a dark and gloomy place separated from the land of the living. Shinto believes that people who have been killed unfairly can hold a grudge and become an evil Kami wandering the land looking for revenge.
Shrines
Shrines are considered to be shelters for and places of worship of Kami. These shrines may be a public building, a place of natural beauty such as a sacred forest, mountain, or waterfall, or they can be a small shrine set up in a home that is known as a Kamidana.
Shinto is the indigenous religion of Japan and has existed since before recorded history. The earliest writings that reference beliefs that are held by the Shinto religion date from the 8th century but it was not unified into Shinto at that time and was just an unorganized collection of local beliefs. It was not until the Nara and Heian periods that those beliefs were collected and organized into the religion that we now know as Shinto.
Shinto is a little bit difficult to understand initially for westerners. Indeed, I still don't have a real great understanding of it but I will try and use my limited knowledge as well as Wikipedia to help me put this answer together.
There are 5 main components that make up the Shinto religion. Those are the concepts of Kami, purity, the afterlife, shrines, and common practices. I will try to explain each of those to the best of my ability.
Kami
The concept of Kami doesn't have a direct, single word definition in English but it can be described as god, spirit, or spiritual essence.
What are the beliefs of Shintoism?
Answer
3738
Follow
Request
More
6 ANSWERS

Joel Postma, Unknowable
Updated Nov 15, 2017
Shinto is the indigenous religion of Japan and has existed since before recorded history. The earliest writings that reference beliefs that are held by the Shinto religion date from the 8th century but it was not unified into Shinto at that time and was just an unorganized collection of local beliefs. It was not until the Nara and Heian periods that those beliefs were collected and organized into the religion that we now know as Shinto.
Shinto is a little bit difficult to understand initially for westerners. Indeed, I still don't have a real great understanding of it but I will try and use my limited knowledge as well as Wikipedia to help me put this answer together.
There are 5 main components that make up the Shinto religion. Those are the concepts of Kami, purity, the afterlife, shrines, and common practices. I will try to explain each of those to the best of my ability.
Kami
The concept of Kami doesn't have a direct, single word definition in English but it can be described as god, spirit, or spiritual essence. Essentially, everything in nature, including people, can have the spirit of Kami and stems from the Shinto belief that everything is linked together and not separate. In fact, the Japanese say that there are 8 million Kami. Although, it is more helpful to focus on the idea that there are a large number of Kami rather than the actual number of 8 million. That number is simply used to describe a myriad of Kami.
Kami can be found everywhere, but there are areas that are considered more sacred than others. Those areas are often located near natural areas of beauty such as mountains, waterfalls, or uniquely shaped rock outcroppings. Often a shrine is built in order to house the Kami in these sacred areas.
Shinto promotes the idea of a natural order or the way things should be. This idea is called Kannagara. This includes what is considered the right way to live and focuses on sincerity, honesty, and purity.
Amenominakanushi is the concept of the very first Kami to exist before time, sort of like a creator, and can be translated as the heavenly ancestral god of the originating heart of the universe.
Purity
Shinto believes that certain actions can cause a person to become impure. There are certain purity rites called Harae that are performed either daily, weekly, seasonally, annually, or that are based on the lunar cycle. These rites are performed to cleanse impurity but are done to gain peace of mind and good fortune rather than out of a sense of guilt.
The Afterlife
The afterlife generally contains negative connotations and is seen as a dark and gloomy place separated from the land of the living. Shinto believes that people who have been killed unfairly can hold a grudge and become an evil Kami wandering the land looking for revenge.
Shrines
Shrines are considered to be shelters for and places of worship of Kami. These shrines may be a public building, a place of natural beauty such as a sacred forest, mountain, or waterfall, or they can be a small shrine set up in a home that is known as a Kamidana.
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