Shinto

/ˈʃɪntoʊ/ noun

Definition

The native religion of Japan, centered on the worship of nature spirits (kami) and ancestors, emphasizing harmony with nature and ritual purity.

Etymology

From Japanese 'Shinto,' combining 'shin' (god or spirit) and 'to' (way). The name 'Shinto' was adopted to distinguish it from Buddhism when Buddhism arrived in Japan around the 6th century. It literally means 'the way of the gods.'

Kelly Says

Shinto doesn't have a founder or holy scripture like many religions—instead, it's based on local traditions and beliefs that go back thousands of years in Japan, and almost every Shinto shrine is dedicated to a specific local spirit or place!

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