![]() Hakuhei Hanging From Shimenawa Rope On Torii Gate, Kagoshima. Today, the traditional importance of salt in Shinto purification can be seen when sumo wrestlers sprinkle salt in the sumo ring to purify it before a match, or in the piles of salt on either side of doors to prevent the entry of evil spirits. In ancient days, washing in the salty water of the sea was believed to be the best way to be cleansed. They are places to worship, relax, and be refreshed and renewed.Įssential to Shinto is the practice of misogi, ritual cleansing of both body and spirit. They are often surrounded by trees and filled with the divine energy of nature. No Attribution Required.)īefore entering a shrine, visitors wash their hands and rinse their mouths with special water provided near the torii gate. Purity and cleanliness Water For Purifying Before Entering The Shrine. Part of Shinto’s ritual cleansing is to purify our thoughts and straighten our way of thinking. Immoral behavior is rooted in spiritual or intellectual imbalance. Ugliness is associated with things warped and crooked, including our minds. In a similar vein, moral behavior is associated with the balance of mind, body, and spirit.Įvil deeds and misfortunes are attributed to magatsubi, the curved spirit. Japanese aesthetics reveal an inherent love of beauty displayed through the use of clear clean lines, simple patterns, and subtlety of design. Beauty and goodness are intertwined Pine Trees. Matsuris provide a way for communities to both connect to the kami and be strengthened and rejuvenated themselves. Sumo wrestling and Noh theater are other types of matsuris that are entertainment dedicated to kami. During these festivals, the kami is carried through the town in a portable shrine and people dance in a procession in the streets. Other matsuris serve as entertainment for the kami. Some are religious matsuris, like those in the spring and fall, where Shinto priests represent the community and pray and give thanks for bountiful harvests. Matsuris are festivals and ceremonies by which the Japanese appease the sometimes violent kami of nature and pray for blessings. Eventually, they may even become kami themselves. ![]() Humans continue to grow throughout their lives and after their lives. Love and kindness help us to maintain that cleanness and to develop a clean and pure character. Errors are actions, and those mistaken actions do not follow us around forever.Īs from physical dirt, our spirits can be restored and cleansed from mistakes we’ve made through purification. The essence of all life is a gift from kami, so it is flawless, even if humans err. Shinto assumes the inherent goodness of nature and humanity. There is not even a belief in karma, like in Buddhism or Hinduism. Shinto encourages a cheerful way of life and views life as about the pursuit of happiness rather than being constrained by dogmatic rules concerning “sin.” There is no concept of sin or salvation in Shinto. This decision-making by committee was mentioned in the Kojiki, Japan’s first history written in 710, and may be behind Japanese society’s emphasis on harmony and collectivism. When faced with a problem, kami gather to discuss how to solve it. Shinto has no founder, no creed, and no commandments. Not only natural objects, but people who have made great contributions to society may be enshrined as kami, such as Sugawara no Michizane, the kami of learning, and Wake no Kiyomaro, the Great Protector of the Emperor. Since natural landmarks were places where kami resided, structures were built near them where rituals could be conducted. Sacred Tree At Nachi Grand Shrine, Wakayama. Shinto recognizes the great power and influence these have over our lives. Life force is everywhere and in everything, so there are kami of mountains, wind, waterfalls, trees - all kinds of things. This natural energy, or life force, is what Shinto calls kami. Heaven, earth, and mankind all manifest nature’s energy. Shinto was born from this sense of awe and respect toward the power and beauty of nature and gratitude for its bounty. And they realized that in order to live in harmony with nature, they needed to both receive its blessings and gracefully accept its ravages. They instinctively felt it was their duty to care for the natural world. You can’t help but notice signs of Shinto everywhere in Japan, from impressive torii gates in front of the shrines sprinkled throughout cities and the countryside to tiny conical piles of salt on either side of shop doors.īut what is Shinto? And why are there piles of salt by people’s doors? Shinto’s rootsįrom time immemorial, people in Japan have loved and revered nature as a gift of the gods. You can see the golden emblem of the three-legged crow in the center. Love of nature is the essence of Shinto Great Torii Gate at the original site of the Kumano Hongu Shrine, Wakayama Prefecture.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |