Shinto: Some Basics

Last updated on: August 29, 2016 at 10:29 am by Megan Manson

Shinto: Some Basics 2016-08-29T10:29:44+00:00 Megan Manson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Visitors making prayers at Kotohira Shrine in Kagawa Prefecture. By author.

4. Shinto is highly ritualistic

Shinto is largely a religion of action rather than philosophy, and just about everything in Shinto is steeped in ritual. When one goes to pray at a shrine, for example, there is a prescribed manner in which you do this, starting with bowing at the torii gate before passing through it into the shrine (keeping to the side as the middle path is for the kami), washing one’s hands and mouth in a set order, dropping a coin into the offertory box and finally making one’s prayers to the kami by ringing a bell, bowing and clapping – again, in a set order and a set number of times. The emphasis on ritual can be seen in all aspects of Japanese life and etiquette; I can think of few things in fact that do not have a prescribed manner in which to do them in Japan.

Much of the ritual in Shinto is centred on the concept of harae, or purification. In Shinto, cleanliness is indeed next to godliness, and to deepen one’s relationship with the kami, one must keep one’s self physically, mentally and spiritually pure. Forms of harae ritual include undergoing purification by a Shinto priest, using salt to purify a building or area (for example, the salt scattered by Sumo wrestlers in the ring), and the ascetic practise of bathing under a waterfall, known as misogi.

The ritual nature of Shinto extends to the numerous and diverse festivals that exist in Japan. Like Neopaganism, Shinto places emphasis on the changing of the seasons and there are many local and national festivals commemorating important agricultural dates.

Go back Continue Reading

Shinto & Japanese Religion

Previous Post

March 4, 2016

Hans In Luck - A Wise Fool?

Next Post

March 13, 2016 The Spring Equinox and Death

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Art, Craft & Expression Musings & Miscellaneous Nature & Science News & Reviews Ritual & Festivals Secularism, Politics & Human Rights Shinto & Japanese Religion Uncategorized

Select a Month August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What city is home to the Vatican?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Rome Florence Jerusalem Bethlehem