8/10/2023 0 Comments Japanese kami shintoThe most obvious point of similarity might be the Light of Christ, which permeates all space and which people bring with them into this world. Kami has some similarities with Latter-day Saint thought, but none are to be pressed too far, for they are similarities, not parallels. ![]() So the practice of Shinto implies belief in the kami and a life lived in harmony with kami, meaning not just the “divine” figures but all of life, the world, and the universe. The Japanese name for the religion is Kami-no-michi, which also means “way of the gods,” just as the Chinese does. Shen are the good spirits or gods, and Tao means “way.” Thus Shinto is the way of the gods, implying that life is to be lived in harmony with them. The name of the religion reflects this, for the word Shinto is derived from the two Chinese words shen and Tao. But what is universal in nature may also be individual, so there are divine figures that are manifestations of kami and are themselves called kami or gods. All contain this sacred energy, and nothing is without it. It may be manifest in waterfalls, rocks, trees, mountains, hills, animals, and people. Kami constantly seeks to manifest itself and does so in multiple ways. Thus, while things Chinese were attractive, what did it really mean to be Japanese? This question was answered by bringing together the ancient strains of Japanese history and mythology to create the myth that will be examined below.Ĭentral to Shinto is the concept of kami, which is a life energy or self-creative life force that permeates everything, be it animate or inanimate. Confucian principles were accompanying it. The myth arose in the form in which we will consider it about the sixth century CE as Chinese influence was entering Japan. Shinto is rooted in a myth which seeks to explain the origins of the land of Japan as well as the origin of its people. Because of its geographical ties, it is rarely practiced outside Japan, although there are Shinto temples where groups of Japanese have migrated (e.g., Taiwan, Hawaii, and California). Shinto is a religion about Japan and its people, and it is practiced by four million persons in Japan. Hall of Dance at the Ise Grand Shrine, Ise Grand Shrine is dedicated to the worship of Amaterasu and is the most sacred Shinto shrine. We in the West could learn something from those of the Shinto faith about the reverence for the land and water and our responsibility for them. ![]() Keller, "Shinto," Light and Truth: A Latter-day Saint Guide to World Religions (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2012), 170–85.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |