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Tree Spirits Investigation II - Secret
Shrines
(Part 12 of 12) |
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Tree Worship from Shinto view
A sacred tree with
the sacred rope (shimenawa) around the tree trunk
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Shinto (the way of the gods) is the
indigenous faith of the Japanese people, and it is as old as the
Japanese people.
Shinto does not have a founder nor does it have sacred scriptures
like the sutras or the bible. Propaganda and preaching is
not common either because Shinto is very deeply rooted in the
Japanese people and its traditions.
The kami are the objects of worship in Shinto. They are
sacred spirits and can take various forms such as natural elements
like the sun, mountains, trees, rocks, and the wind, or abstract
things like fertility, but also ancestors, national heroes and
protectors of family clans.
In contrast to Western religions there are no absolutes in Shinto,
even though there is a most important godess, the Sun goddess
Amaterasu Omikami whose shrine is at Ise. Shinto is a very
optimistic faith. It is thought that all humans are
fundamentally good, and that all evil is caused by evil spirits.
The purpose of most of the rituals is to avoid evil spirits by
purification, offerings and prayers.
A written code of ethics and morals does not really exist in
Shinto; but the Confucian ethics had melted together with Shinto
over the centuries, especially during the Edo period.
Nowadays, the people seek support from Shinto and visit shrines in
order to pray for good fortune and to avoid evil spirits
especially before special events such as the opening of a
business, school entrance exams, etc. Several kinds of
talismans can be acquired at many shrines against a little
offering, (i.e. they can be bought with money). A majority
of wedding ceremonies are held in Shinto style. Death, however, is
considered evil in Shinto, and most tasks concerning it,
especially funerals are done according to Buddhist rituals.
Shinto prayers at shrines or at home follow more or less the
following pattern (there exist several variations): First of all
you should purify yourself, by cleaning your hands and your mouth
with clean water. Then you give your offerings (e.g. coins
at a shrine or food at the home shrine), bow twice deeply, clap
your hands twice, bow deeply once more and pray.
Shinto priests are performing the rituals. They are private
persons who can marry and have children. There are even a
few female priests. The priests are usually supported by
young ladies (miko) in white kimono. They help the priest at
rituals and in other tasks in the shrine. They must be
unmarried and are often the priest's daughters.
Shinto shrines are the places of worship and the homes of the kami.
Most shrines celebrate festivals (matsuri) regularly in order to
show the kami the world outside the shrine. There are
special information pages about shrines and festivals.
When Buddhism was introduced to Japan in the 6th century, a few
conflicts occurred between the two religions. But soon they
were able to co-exist harmonically and even complemented each
other. Many Buddhists argued that the kami are
manifestations of buddhas. Before the Meiji restoration,
Shinto shrines were organized by the communities, while, on the
other hand, the emperor performed the imperial Shinto rituals at
the court - an important governmental task.
After the Meiji restoration, the Meiji rulers made Shinto their
state religion and used Japan's creation myths that showed a
direct link between the Sun godess and the emperor family to
foster national feelings and to justify the emperor's absolute
position. Shinto priests became state officials and the
important shrines were funded by the government. There were
also efforts to separate and emancipate Shinto from Buddhism
completely.
After WW2, Shinto was completely separated from the state and was
classified as a normal religion. Today, most of the shrines
belong to the Association of Shinto Shrines.
Important features of Shinto art are the architecture of the
shrines and the cultivation and preservation of ancient art forms
such as Noh theatre, calligraphy and court music (gagaku), an
ancient dance music that originated at the courts of Tang China
(618 - 907).
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