Hello, this is Roam About Japan. In this podcast, we explore Japanese culture and tourist spots from a Japanese perspective.
In our first episode, let's dive into the ancient Japanese religion of Shinto. Shinto is a unique faith that may differ significantly from what you might imagine about religions. Let's start with some distinctive aspects of Shinto.
Firstly, Shinto is a polytheistic belief, meaning Japan is said to have eight million gods. For example, Yasukuni Shrine houses an incredible 2.46 million deities in a single shrine. We'll discuss more about the types of gods later.
Secondly, Shinto doesn't have a founder or specific scriptures. It originated in the Jomon period as a form of nature worship. During the hunting-centric Jomon era, people likely prayed for successful hunts in forests, mountains, rivers, and seas. Even today, Japanese hunters known as Matagi use a special language in the forest to avoid polluting it with regular speech.
Thirdly, without a central authority or scriptures, Shinto doesn't dictate a specific way of life. However, the act of visiting shrines is ingrained in Japanese culture, signifying a connection to nature and expressing gratitude for various aspects of life.
Now, let's delve into the history of Shinto. As mentioned earlier, Shinto's roots trace back to the Jomon period's nature worship. With the advent of rice cultivation in the Yayoi period, social hierarchies emerged, and powerful clans claimed divine ancestry to legitimize their rule. One such clan unified western Japan and declared its leader as the emperor. The Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, compiled in the 8th century, narrate the stories of various gods and the sun goddess Amaterasu, considered the ancestor of the imperial family.
Around the 7th century, Buddhism arrived from China, leading to a blend of Shinto and Buddhist practices known as Shinbutsu-shugo. This syncretism persisted until the Meiji Restoration, which established Shinto as the state religion and separated it from Buddhism.
Now, let's talk about Shinto gods. As mentioned, Shinto is believed to have eight million gods, categorized into three types. Firstly, there are gods born from nature worship, associated with mountains, seas, and weather. Secondly, there are gods created by ancient clans, including those found in the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki. Finally, real historical figures, including emperors and those who died in wars, are also revered as gods, such as at Yasukuni Shrine.
Regarding shrines, Japan has over 100,000, with many dedicated to the ancestral sun goddess, Amaterasu. However, given the vast number of gods, different shrines cater to various deities, offering different blessings like prosperity, love, or success in business. Some shrines even focus on specific families or regions, known as ujigami or community gods.
In modern society, while many Japanese may not identify with a specific religion, customs like hatsumode (first shrine visit of the year) and shichigosan (a celebration for children at ages 3, 5, and 7) involve visiting shrines to pray for happiness and well-being. In times of adversity, people may also visit shrines for rituals to dispel misfortune.
Thank you for listening until the end. You can find more details, including this episode's script, on our website. If interested, check it out in the description. Thank you, and see you next time!