The sun goddess Amaterasu was produced from the left eye of Izanagi and the moon god Tsuki Yomi from his right. It is said that Izanagi and Izanami (Heaven and Earth) were a pair who gave birth to the Japanese Islands and various deities. Shinto beliefs and rituals are founded mainly upon creation myths surrounding the birth and development of the sacred Japanese Islands. Thus, Shintoists seek and worship the respective Kami who are particular to their needs and wishes. The Kami are seen as beings who exhibit qualities of harmony and cooperation and who assist people in accomplishing their objectives. Heavenly deities, most notably the sun goddess Amaterasu Omikami, are primarily treated as Kami, but the wider scope of the concept also recognises objects of reverence to be acknowledged as objects of worship such as illustrious ancestors, forces of nature, animals, and even rocks. © Sean Pavone | Īt the heart of Shinto ideology is the concept of the Kami, commonly defined as, ‘gods’ or ‘deities’. Nevertheless, Shinto beliefs and practices are firmly embedded in the civilisation of Japan and continue to remain an integral part of Japanese culture today. Globally, up to 3 million people recognise themselves religiously as Shintoists and although Shinto rituals are still widely practiced throughout Japan, only a minority of Japanese identify exclusively with it. Consequently, most Japanese (85 percent) culturally practice a mixture of Shintoism and Buddhism. The notable arrival of Buddhism into Japan in the 6 th century CE had a significant impact on Shinto doctrine thus, it was only to distinguish itself from Buddhism that the term Shinto was initially coined. Since those ancient times, Shinto has been influenced by an influx of various religions into Japan from surrounding regions. The ancient Japanese clan Yamato initially believed in Shinto only as a tribal religion but, as they grew in number, proceeded to propagate it as a means to establish and solidify their reign. Its roots and origins trace back to the latter part of the Stone Age, when it is said that the Japanese first began inhabiting the Japanese Islands. Shinto, commonly defined as, ‘Japan’s indigenous religion’, is as old as Japan itself. If Japan’s major religions were likened to a tree, Shintoism would be its roots. Symbol of Shintosim, the Floating Otorii gate at Miyajima, Japan.
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