Shinto Facts & Worksheets

Shinto, also known as Shintoism, is the indigenous religion of Japan. It is the oldest and most prominent religion on the island with 88.9 million followers. It is said to capture the essence of Japanese culture because of its long and deep connection with Japan’s history.

See the fact file below for more information on Shinto or alternatively, you can download our 35-page Shinto worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

ETYMOLOGY AND DEFINITION

• The term Shinto stemmed from a combination of the Chinese characters shen, meaning “spirit” or “divine,” and dao, meaning the “way,” corresponding with the Japanese phrase kami no michi. The literal English translation of the phrase is “the way of the gods,” which is the definition that is popularly associated with
  the religion.
• This name did not exist in Japan until the arrival of Buddhism during the 6th century C.E., which prompted its coinage to separate it from the said religion that came from China.

HISTORY

Early Shinto

• In the old times, the early people of Japan gathered together into clans or uji, which could be considered the basic unit of society then. These groups of people were related by blood or by affinity, settling in particular areas of Japan. As clans, they would all get together to commemorate significant events like births, marriages, and the New Year. They would also gather to participate in the celebration of planting in the spring season and harvesting in fall.
• The beginnings of Shinto can be traced back to the tradition of the uji (clans) worshipping and praying to spirits found in the natural world, mainly for fertility and agricultural prosperity. For this reason, the early Japanese were described as animists.
• The spirits they worshipped were the kami, and each uji had its own local deity referred to as ujigami, which were primarily related to the natural phenomena of the area from which they came. After some time, different clans merged, which meant that the tutelary kami of the dominant uji also became the kami of the general people.
• The kami were believed to be present everywhere, especially in natural elements or forces that they found powerful and awe-inspiring such as fire, wind, thunder, mountains, large boulders, and more.
• The earliest record known of ancient Shinto consists of the norito, which are prayers to the kami performed by the head of each uji. Given that rice is the most important crop in Japan, many norito are related to asking the kami for a bountiful rice harvest.

Chinese Influence

• During its development, Shinto came into contact with ancient religions from China.
• One of these was Confucianism, a Chinese belief system that arrived in Japan in the 5th century C.E. This emphasized the importance of order and harmony in social relationships, which found its way to Shinto.
• Buddhism is said to have been introduced to Japan in 552 C.E., also becoming an influential religion on the island. It was adopted by the Japanese court in the 6th century C.E. and became well-established in the land, co-existing with Shinto and eventually dominating.
• On the other hand, Daoism, another Chinese religious tradition that came to Japan around the 7th century C.E., strengthened the Japanese appreciation of nature.

Meiji Period

• Amidst the social and cultural changes happening around the world and in Japan itself, the administration under Emperor Meiji (1852-1912) sought to revive Shinto as Japan’s national religion to reaffirm the divine right of the imperial government to bring back its power.
• In 1869, Shinto was institutionalized by Emperor Meiji as the national religion of Japan.
• As a state institution, it became mandatory for the Japanese people to observe the doctrines of State Shinto regardless of personal religious beliefs. During this time, the deep interrelation between Shinto and Buddhism began to decline. 

Shinto after the War

• State Shinto was dissolved in 1946 after World War II. The religion remained at the heart of the Japanese nation but it was no longer state-supported.
• During this time, Emperor Hirohito also gave up claims to divinity such as supposedly being a living god.
• After the abolishment of State Shinto, existing shrines united as an organization called the Jinja Honchō or the Association of Shinto Shrines.

THE TYPES OF SHINTO

• Folk Shinto describes the form of Shinto worship practiced by the Japanese that conforms to the traditions of their ancestors. These followers usually do not belong to organized shrines – rather, they practice Shinto at small, local shrines in their communities or
  at home.
• State Shinto, as mentioned, is the kind of Shinto that emerged during the reign of Emperor Meiji, in which Shinto worship was re-emphasized and funded by the government. This kind of Shinto was considered non-religious as it was primarily concerned with patriotism and the recognition of the emperor as a divine being.
• Sect Shinto refers to the thirteen different formations of Shinto that surfaced among peasant communities during the Meiji era in response to the non-religious State Shinto, which led to a growing need for a belief system. The most well-known of these are Tenrikyo and Kurozumikyo.
• Shrine Shinto, in contrast to Sect and State Shinto practices, is worship in public shrines and resulted from the coming together of different shrines under one organization after World War II.

SHINTO DOCTRINES

• Shinto has two holy books – Kojiki and Nihon Shoki – though it has no canonical sacred text that contains its tenets.
• One of the beliefs of Shinto is that followers are connected to the heavenly kami. For this reason, they also believe that they are bestowed with the knowledge of how to be a good person.
• Among the virtues that are important in Shinto are gratitude, sincerity, and harmony. These virtues guide the lives of the Japanese people.
• In connection with this, social relationships are more important than the individual.
• Purity not only physically but also in spirit is another important concept in Shinto. This is because it is only through this that the humans can be at one with the kami and receive their blessings. 

SHINTO RITUALS

• Performing rituals is a way for the followers of Shinto to preserve their religious traditions. The following are some of the rituals that take place during ceremonies:
  • The purification ritual called harai or harae is carried out to cleanse Shinto adherents of any spiritual impurities and hence allow them to feel the presence of the kami. Performed by a priest, this ritual involves saying a prayer and scattering salt or salt water.
  • Offerings are also a common practice in Shinto in which the followers bring simple gifts to the kami in order to keep them happy and continuously gain their favor. These offerings are called shinsen and frequently include food.
  • The recitation of norito is also observed, where the prayer is uttered in a traditional way to reach the kami.
  • A special feast called naorai takes place after significant events where participants are believed to share food with the kami.

THE KAMI OF SHINTO

• Shinto is an example of polytheism or the belief in a multitude of deities, having around eight million kami according to the tradition encompassed by the expression yaoyorozu-no-kamigami. The following are just some of the major kami in Shinto and in Japanese mythology:
• Amaterasu – The goddess of the Sun who has the highest status among the kami
• Inari – The deity associated with rice and fertility known to protect food and lovers
• Izanagi – One of the creation deities who are the creators of Japan and considered to be the parents of other deities. He is the husband and brother of Izanami.
• Izanami – The other creation deity. She is the wife and sister of Izanagi.
• Ninigi – The grandson of Amaterasu brought down to Earth to rule
• Susanoo – The storm god and a brother of Amaterasu
• Tsukuyomi – The Moon god
• Fuujin – The god of the wind
• Uzume – The goddess of dawn and mirth
• Hachiman – The god of war

SHINTO FESTIVALS

• Shinto festivals are held to commemorate a variety of occasions. These festivals are referred to as matsuri in Japanese, which roughly means  in English “inviting the gods.”
• Shinto festivals are usually characterized by a mix of solemnity and fun as they involve religious as well as entertaining activities. Some of the several celebrations observed in Japan every year are listed below:
  • The New Year Festival is regarded as the principal Shinto celebration. On New Year’s Eve, people visit their local shrines, which marks their first shrine attendance of the year. This is custom is called hatsumōde.
  • On February 3, people take part in a bean throwing festival called setsubun to expel evil.
  • On March 3, the doll festival known as hinamatsuri is observed in Japan to celebrate young girls and to pray for their happiness and prosperity. At this event, ornamental dolls wearing traditional court dress are displayed on platforms covered with red carpets.
  • On the third weekend of May, the annual Sanja Matsuri is celebrated, which is considered to be one of the largest Shinto festivals observed in Tokyo. It involves parades of portable shrines called mikoshi.

SHINTO SHRINES

• Shinto shrines are called jinja and are considered sacred places that house a kami or more. 
• According to the Association of Shinto Shrines, there are about 80,000 shrines existing in Japan. This is because almost every area where Shinto is practiced has a local shrine that houses its tutelary kami.
• Locals visit their shrines to worship the kami and to celebrate events. The shrines may also serve as recreational places.
• Shrines, especially the traditional ones, are mostly made of natural materials. There are also no decorations expected inside
  a shrine.
• Contemporary shrines have a chōzuya or a water ablution pavilion consisting of a stone basin with water called the chōzubachi whereby visitors purify themselves by washing their hands and mouths.
• Shrines also have a gateway called a torii that serves as an entrance. It also signifies the separation of the world of humans from the sacred world of the kami. The torii moreover is a popular symbol of Shinto.
• The torii has several variants according to style, which can be grouped into two primary families: the shinmei family and the myōjin family. The torii included in the former are known for their straight uppermost lintel beam, while those under the latter, have a straight and a curved part.

Shinto Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about Shinto across 24 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching about Shinto which is the indigenous religion of Japan.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

• Shinto Facts
• Looking Back on Shinto’s Past
• Unscrambling Shinto Terms
• Four Types, Eigh Statements
• Fact Check!
• Match the Kami
• The Styles of Torii
• Shrine Search
• Side by Side
• Shinto Shoulds
• Appreciating Sanja Matsuri

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main teaching of Shinto?

Shinto teaches that we are fundamentally good and our spirit is connected to the heavenly kami which means purity is not only physical must also be spiritual. It teaches the value of virtues such as gratitude, sincerity, and harmony.

How did Shinto begin?

The beginnings of Shinto can be traced back to tradition. Clans used to come together to worship and pray to spirits found in nature mainly for fertility and prosperity.

Is Shinto required by the laws of Japan?

Shinto used to be the official religion of Japan. In Emperor Mieji’s time, it was required that the population only subscribe to this religion. After the war though, during the reign of Emperor Hirohito, State Shinto was abolished so although it still remains the religion of the majority, it is no longer state-mandated.

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