Shinto, as it is known today, has its origins deep in the history of Japan and has been practiced as early as 500 B.C., beginning as an "amorphous mix of nature worship, fertility cults, divination techniques, hero worship and shamanism," according to
AskAsia.org,
Shinto places emphasis on worshipping the many deities called "Kami," who "take the form of things and concepts important to life"
(Japan Guide).
These concepts and things include physical entities and phenomena such as wind, rain, mountains, trees, and rivers, and concepts such as fertility.
Although Shinto has no official text outlining required beliefs, ancient texts detailing the history of Japan reinforce the beliefs of the faith, describing the creation of the Japanese islands by the divine couple, Izanagi-no-mikoto. According to text and belief, the children of the divine couple went on to become the deities of Japan, their daughter Amaterasu Omikami, the Sun Goddess, commanding the most respect among them.
The great Ise Shrine on Japan's eastern coast, one of the three most respected and famous shrines in Japan, was built in honor of the Sun Goddess. Her brother, Susano-no-mikoto, is also highly respected. According to belief, he descended from Heaven to roam the earth and became famous for slaying a great, evil serpent. The mirror that acted as his shield is housed at the Ise Shrine, and his sword is preserved in the Atsuta Shrine, another one of the three major shrines of Japan.
The term "Shinto" itself did not come into use until the 6th century A.D. This evolution coincided with the first time Emperor Yomei was seen praying before an image of Buddha for recovery of an illness. Many speculate that the Japanese took to using the name "Shinto" in an effort to preserve the faith in the face of encroaching foreign religions like Buddhism and Confucianism.
Shinto has no founder or propaganda, and preaching is highly uncommon. The religion is so deeply rooted in the people themselves that it is passed down from generation to generation, making it incredibly difficult for foreigners to embrace.
Both Shinto and Buddhism have established themselves as the official religions of Japan, with an estimated 86% of the Japanese population adhering to one or a combination of the two. This cooperation between the two is due in part to the philosophies held by followers of both. Followers of Shinto view the Buddha as another Kami, and those within Buddhism view Kamis as "manifestations of various Buddhas and Bodhisattvas."
(ReligiousTolerance.org)
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