Guest Author - Melanie Shintaku

In the Shinto belief, the world is inhabited by the spiritual, kami are present and take various forms. Kami are deities. There is no bible as with Christianity, rather an inherent belief in the spiritual world and knowledge that the earth is inhabited by both humans and kami alike. Shintoism does not believe in original sin, rather that each soul can better themselves and society through improvement of their moral nature.

Shinto priests are responsible for accurately keeping the traditions of Shinto; and providing detailed rituals through which we can connect with the kami.

Typically in Japan, festivals of thanks and celebration (including weddings) are held in the Shinto faith. While there are funeral rites available in Shinto, funerals are typically held in the Buddhist faith. During our wedding, the priest called upon the kami to be present, to actually reside in the altar and participate in the ceremony. It was a very meaningful wedding ceremony for my husband and me. Shrine maidens (miko) also helped with the wedding ceremony. One of their tasks includes providing a blessing (through a ritual including bells) over the couple as well as all those present at the wedding.

Sacred Kami
Shintoism contains an innumerable amount of Kami - ancestoral spirits of Japan, kami associated with creation or regional kami. Some people are believed to live on in the afterlife as special kami. Reverence for family is a priority in Japanese culture and has its roots deep within Shintoism. Kami can take many forms, and can behave badly or with great mercy.

Amaterasu-o-mi-Kami
Perhaps one of the most famous stories of a deity is that of the main deity, the sun goddess Amaterasu-o-mi-kami (which means "glorious goddess who shines in the heavens"). Amaterasu had hidden herself away, taking light with her, as she was ashamed of her brother Susano-o's horrific behavior. Eventually, Amaterasu was coaxed out of hiding when she heard singing, music, dancing and laughter just outside her cave. Upon emerging from the cave, she saw her reflection in a mirror, which had been placed by another kami, as well as jewels that had been hung in a tree, and vowed never to return to the cave again. Thus, it was Amateratsu stepping out of her cave which allowed light to return to the world.

It is from the story of Amateratsu we have 3 symbols of Shintoism:
1. A mirror (to reflect your true nature and the symbol of Amateratsu-o-mi-Kami). In the mirror, we see our own reflection, our true nature. It is when we are clean or pure in nature that the reflection of the higher level, or deity, appears.

2. A sword (symbol of power and Susano-o-no-Mikoto). The sword was taken from the 8 headed dragon Susano had slayed. The 8 heads of the dragon also represent negative behavior or sin. So the sword, a symbol of power, also serves as a symbol of purification.

3. A jewel to represent one's influence over others. The mirror and jewel were used to lure Amateratsu from a cave, allowing light to enter into the world. While the mirror caught her reflection, the jewels which were hanging in a tree lured her out of the cave even farther.

Shrines
Amateratsu is revered at Ise Jinja (Jinja means 'Shrine'), the oldest shrine in Japan. There are two main festivals in her honor - July 17 and on the winter soltice December 21st. The main shrine at Ise is taken down and rebuilt every twenty years.

While shrines previously consisted of only natural materials, some modern day Shinto shrines are built with modern materials and can be found throughout the cities of Japan, even on some corporate office rooftops. My favorite make up line, Shiseido, has a corporate office in Ginza - a very expensive district of Tokyo - complete with a rooftop Torii. Hanazono Jinja is a famous Shinto shrine located in the heart of Tokyo and associated with good business. It is not unusual to see businessmen visiting Hanazono Jinja throughout the week.

Animals Related to the Kami
If you have an opportunity to visit a Shinto shrine, you may notice statues of foxes at some shrines. Fox serve as the messengers of the Kami - but are not the actual Kami. Horses also serve as messengers of the Kami and are seen in various festivals or parades related to Shintoism. Nature is revered as it is here, in nature, where the kami themselves reside. So polluting or destroying one's environment is destroying the home of the kami (and ourselves).

Torii - Famous Japanese Gateways
The vermillion colored torii are beautiful symbols associated with Japan. It is believed that passing under the torii is a step in purification, and marks where you are entering sacred ground.

Shimenawa
Shimenawa are straw ropes tied between either two trees, or two large rocks. They represent a sacred site inhabited by the kami.

There is much to learn about Shintoism and the various kami, and how Shintoism has changed and been reshaped throughout the years. While difficult to find much written about the indigenous religion of Japan, a good reference point would be the International Shinto Foundation in Tokyo and New York. http://www.shinto.org