Shinto

Shinto (Japanese: Shintō) is an indigenous spiritual tradition originating in the Japanese islands. At its centre is the worship of kami—a term for spirits, deities, and forces of nature associated with natural features, places, ancestors, and particular events. Kami may inhabit mountains, trees, rocks, rivers, and notable deceased persons.

Shinto has no single founder, authoritative scripture, or formal doctrine in the manner of scriptural religions. It is largely based on practices and rituals: shrine visits, spiritual purification, and seasonal festivals. Many Japanese people practice both Shinto and Buddhism concurrently, without seeing them as mutually exclusive religious identities.

Kami and the concept of purification

Kami are understood as active forces that people interact with through ritual, offerings, and prayer. A central concept is the distinction between purity (kiyome) and spiritual pollution (kegare), which includes death and blood. Water-based purification rituals—such as rinsing hands and mouth before entering a shrine—are part of standard practice.

Shrines and torii

Places of worship are called jinja (shrines). The entrance gateway is a torii, a wooden or stone structure marking the boundary between ordinary and sacred space. Inside is a hall housing a sacred object representing the kami. Priests (kannushi) and shrine maidens (miko) conduct rituals. Large shrines such as Ise and Izumo occupy important places in Japanese religious history.

Early texts

The principal texts on kami mythology are the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, compiled in the eighth century. They contain creation narratives, including accounts of Amaterasu, the sun goddess, connected to the genealogy of the Japanese imperial line. These works blend historical record with mythology and do not function as a religious law code.

Modern period

From the Meiji era until the end of the Second World War, the Japanese state promoted Shinto as a state-controlled system linked to nationalism and the emperor. After 1945, new law separated state and religion, and shrines became independent organizations. Today, Shinto practices are most common during occasions such as New Year, weddings, and local festivals.