Notes on Shinto

This happened a couple of years ago. I wanted to watch Kurosawa's Dreams; I considered important to look firstly for some information of help to enter the universe of the movie. So I started with Shinto. Here are some basics (I took these notes from a guide on Japan).

Shinto does not have have Sacred Scriptures (however, two ancient texts could be considered as some kind of Holy Tradition: Kojiki - The Records of Ancient Matters and Nihongi - Chronicles of Japan). Propaganda and preaching are not common either.

Shinto gods are called kami. They are sacred spirits which take the form of things and concepts important to life, such as wind, rain, mountains, trees, rivers and fertility. Humans become kami after they die. The Sun Goddess Amaterasu is considered Shinto's most important kami.

- Some prominent rocks are worshiped as kami -

There are no absolutes in Shinto. There is no absolute right and wrong, and nobody is perfect. Shinto is an optimistic faith, as humans are thought to be fundamentally good, and evil is believed to be caused by evil spirits. Consequently, the purpose of most Shinto rituals is to keep away evil spirits by purification, prayers and offerings to the kami. Shinto shrines are the places of worship and the homes of kami. Most shrines celebrate matsuri regularly in order to show the kami the outside world. Shinto priests often live on the shrine grounds. Men and women can become priests, and they are allowed to marry and have children. Priests are supported by young ladies (miko) during rituals and concerning other tasks at the shrine. Miko wear white kimono, must be unmarried and are often the priest's daughters.

- Miko at Aso shrine -

The introduction of Buddhism in the 6th century was followed by a few initial conflicts, however, the two religions were soon able to co-exist harmonically and even complement each other. Many Buddhists viewed the kami as manifestations of Buddhas. A large number of wedding ceremonies are held in Shinto style. Death, however, is considered a source of impurity, and is left to Buddhism to deal with.

- Ise Jingu is Shinto's most sacred shrine -

And here is my comment:

There is no definite barrier in Shinto between immanent and transcendent: we live in a wonderful world populated by kami: nature and divine are metamorphosing each other continually.

(A Life in Books)