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Shintoism
Meaning the Way of the Gods, this Japanese religion advocates ritual and honor. It melded well with the philosophies of the Samurai warriors and is practiced by approximately 120 million people, mostly Japanese.
319 Questions
Where is kami colter from the Waltons now?
i heard kami settled by the area where the real waltons moutain was. i think i also read something about living in Florida befor leaving.
In the Shinto religions what do people worship how are they worship?
Shintoists worship their gods by praying, meditating and chanting.
Where can I learn to play Gagaku?
It really depends on where you live, but I would try asking your local Japanese American Cultural center to see if they have a teacher or if they can reference you to one.
How many branches of Shinto are there?
There are two main branches. Secretarian Shinto (which sub divides into 13 more branches) and State Shinto Religion.
In the modern era Shinto-derived religious organizations can be broadly divided into two types, namely "sectarian Shinto" (kyōha Shintō) and "Shinto-derived new religions" (Shintōkei shinshūkyō). The term "sectarian Shinto" is widely used to indicate the thirteen sects of Shinto of the prewar era.
Shintosim is a Japanese religion that worships political rulers and the spirits of nature, including the all-important god of rice.
There are many different places of worship.There called Shrines. They can worship many things at them it consist of : Kami, Ancestors, and different spirits.
Why do the Shinto people wash their hands and mouths before entering a place of worship?
very simply - to purify themselves before they pray. They are supposed to wash the right hand first, then the left, then scoop some water to rinse out their mouth.
you just have 2 follow the comand, the necessity of being loyal to one's ancestors.
What is the meaning of the chrysanthemum in Japanese culture?
In Japan, there's even a "Festival of Happiness" to celebrate this flower each year. A symbol of the sun, the Japanese consider the orderly unfolding of the chrysanthemum's petals to represent perfection, and Confucius once suggested they be used as an object of meditation. It's said that a single petal of this celebrated flower placed at the bottom of a wine glass will encourage a long and healthy life.
Why does Shinto seem to have no obvious rules?
The reason that adherents of Shinto religion do not seem to follow any rules is that they mainly believe in trusting the natural world instead of having a bunch of lists of rules. They do believe in the natural surroundings and that to be a good follower you must give yourself to the gods and go to the shrines to pray. The rules are not codified in the sense that lay persons are given written lists. However there are indeed rules of sorts in Shinto religion. There are many folk beliefs and resulting mores in Shinto that could be construed as rules. For example, the emphasis on purity and cleanliness as virtues result in certain widespread practices in Japan- such as the peeling of skin from fruits and vegetables before consumption, the removal of shoes before entering temples, shrines, and homes, daily cleaning of the body, cleansing of the mouth with spring water prior to visiting a Shinto shrine, the wearing of white by Shinto priests, thorough cleaning out of the home ("Spring Cleaning") on specific days of the year (not only of dirt and filth, but of evil energy/spirits that accompany it).
In addition, the reverence toward life, nature, ancestors, family, and community that Shinto emphasizes demands a certain way of life and living. Honesty, deference, inobtrusiveness, careful reflection on one's interactions and impact on all around them- these requirements are not always directly codified. Perhaps the fact that they are not strictly obvious are what keep adherents on their toes- the lack of obvious rules makes self-reflection and focus on proper living extremely important. Those who foolishly clash with nature tempt illness, injury, accidents, evil spirits, imbalance in their personal life, etc.
Shinto in modern times has been influenced and shared ideas with Confucian and Buddhist thought, and these religions/philosophies have simultaneously all become part of Japanese religious life.
A good source is - Understanding Shinto: Origins, Beliefs, Practices
This book can be found for $1.49 used on Amazon ...
http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Shinto-Origins-Practices-Festivals/dp/1907486704/ref=lh_ni_t?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A317YISDMRJIZA
