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Shinto Research Paper

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For week 7 I decided that I would do my assignment on Shinto, since taking this class and reading about Shinto it started to interest me, especially now that I can look back and think about what I saw when I was in Japan and wondered what the religion was that they were practicing. Shinto’s meaning is “way of the gods”, this is one of the oldest religions in Japan, which began during the period of the Yayoi culture (c. 300 BCE - 300 CE). The faith has neither a founder or prophets and there is no major text which outlines its principal beliefs. Shinto's key concepts of purity, harmony, family respect, and subordination of the individual before the group have become parts of the Japanese character whether the individual claims a religious affiliation …show more content…

These gods (ujigami) are associated with specific ancient clans (uji).Izanami and Izanagi are known as the create gods that form the islands of Japan. The sun and supreme deity are female, Amaterasu. Her brother is Susanoo and is known as the god of the sea and storms.
The story of this is that Susanoo and Amaterasu battled with each other following Susanoo's disgraceful behaviour. Amaterasu then went and hid in a cave, this caused the darkening of the world, and the gods could not tempt her to come out of the cave. They even went as far as offering fine jewels and a mirror but nothing they did could get her to come out. One day however, there was an erotic dancer caused so much laughter that it caused the attention of Amaterasu and this made her come out to see what the fuss and laughter was all about
Another story is that Susanoo turned over a new leaf. This was done by slaying an eight-headed dragon monster, the dragon was said have been terrifying a farming family, he gave the sword he found in one of the creature's eight tails to Amaterasu in reconciliation. The dispute is taken by historians to represent the victory of the Yamato clan (represented by Amaterasu) over their rivals the Izumo (represented by …show more content…

Together they created a new race of gods who ruled the earth. Over time Amaterasu became concerned at the power/control that the gods wielded. Amaterasu then went to her grandson Honinigi, these were the jewels and mirror the gods used to persuade Amaterasu out of her cave and the sword that was given to her by Susanoo, known later as Kusanagi. These three objects would become part of the imperial regalia of Japan. Another symbol carried by Honinigi was the magnificent magatama jewel which had special fertility powers. The most powerful god was Okuninushi, Honinigi landed on Mt. Takachio in Kyushu and made a deal with Okuninushi. For his loyalty to Amaterasu, Okuninushi would have the important role of protector of the future royal family. Later, the god would be regarded as the protector of all Japan.
Other important divine figures include The 'Seven Lucky Gods' or Shichifukujin specifically Daikokuten (considered the god of the kitchen) and Ebisu who represent wealth, Inari the rice god, Amida (ruler of the Pure Land, i.e. heaven), Kannon (protector of children, women in childbirth, and dead souls) and Jizo (protector of those in pain and the souls of dead

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