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There are no Shinto scriptures per se but there are certain writings that embody the spirit of Shinto and are central to it. They include: the Kojiki (Record of Ancient Matters) and the Nihon Shoki (Chronicles of Japan) classics. These classics contain the mythology of the Kami, the founding of Japan and its imperial line. Other Shinto Classics include the records of the early emperors; the Shinto ritual texts on purification, the Engishiki; and the ritual dances of the Kagura-uta; and the Man'yoshu, (Anthology of Poems). The Shinto faith began with the Creation Myth or mythological beliefs that at the beginning of the universe there was only one thing that later divided into two things, Heaven and Earth. Then Kami appeared in Heaven and the last of them was a male and female, Kami couple who gave birth to the land, to nature, to the Kami, and to the people of Japan. Within this life giving power, there is no substantial difference between humans and nature or the Kami. We are all children of Kami. After their death people are revered at their home as Ancestral Kami. These Kami parents were Izanami (Izanami-No-Kami) who was the Japanese Shinto Earth Mother and Izanagi (Izanagi-No-Kami) was the Japanese Shinto Sky Father. Izanami (Izanami-No-Kami) was the Japanese Shinto Earth Mother, primordial creator goddess, who represented all that was gracious and heavenly. The Female Who Invites together with her husband and soulmate Izanagi (Izanagi-No-Kami), The Male Who Invites, Izanami was given the task of creating the world. Izanagi (Izanagi-No-Kami) was the Japanese Shinto Sky Father, primordial creator god, and Initiator of the Cleansing Rites who represented all that was light and heavenly. The Male Who Invites together with his wife and soulmate Izanami (Izanami-No-Kami), The Female Who Invites, Izanagi was given the task of creating the world.
Izanagi and the Izanami stood together on the floating bridge of the heavens called
Ama-no-ukihashi and immersed a bejeweled spear deep into the sea. As they
gradually removed it from the waves, water droplets condensed to form the first
Japanese island where the kami and humans were born. After their laborious
endeavors together were finished, the Izanami needed a lengthy rest and
recuperation, so she retreated to the Otherworld for a long period of time
before returning to the Earthly realm to rejoin Izanagi.
The Kami are Shinto sacred spirits that are the objects to pray to for blessings and grace and to worship for their spirituality. These Kami can take various forms including: the forms of natural elements like trees, rocks, mountains, the wind, and the sun; the forms of national heroes and protectors of family clans; or abstract things like fertility. Kami are the only things that have great influence on daily life. The Kami of natural phenomena are worshiped: Kami of the Seas, Kami of the Rivers, Kami of the Thunders, Kami of the Rains, Kami of the Mountains. It is important to perform rites for Kami since although they usually guard and bless people they can also get angry and bring misfortunes upon them. The Kami are neither omnipotent nor omniscient. In Shinto mythology, the Kamiah that gave birth to the land of Japan failed at first and had to ask for help from other Kami in heaven who told them to search for the answers through the practice of divination. There are no absolutes or perfect Kami. The people worship the divine spirits, Shinrei, because they have great influence in their lives, and they are in awe of the Magatsuhi Kami who bring evil into them. There is no written code of ethics and morals, but over the centuries Confucian ethics (the teachings of Kongzi) were instilled into Shinto, especially during the Edo period. Today over four million Japanese visit Shinto shrines to pray for good fortune; to keep away evil spirits before special events; and to procure talismans. The architecture of the shrines, Noh theatre, calligraphy, and the court dance music (Gagaku) are all important features of Shinto.
The Way of the Kami,
harmoniously coexists with both Confucianism and Buddhism. These three
traditions have been woven together into the tapestry of Japanese ethics,
customs, culture, attitudes, and overall outlook on life.
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