The rituals and practices of Shinto revolve around showing respect and gratitude to ancestral Kami. According to
General Characteristics of a Life Lived in Reverence of Kami
followers should:
"...be grateful for the blessings of Kami and the benefits of the ancestors. Be diligent in the observance of Shinto rites, applying oneself to them with sincerity, brightness and purity of heart. Be helpful to others and in the world without thought of rewards and seek the advancement of the world as one whose life mediates the will of the Kami. Bind oneself with others in harmonious acknowledgment of the will of the emperor, praying that the country may flourish and that other peoples too may live in peace and prosperity."
(The Jinja Shinto)
Seasonal ceremonies are held, usually at spring plantings, fall harvests and other special anniversaries, during which the Kami are brought to presence, then honored and celebrated. These festivals are held to assimilate the Kami into the daily lives of Japanese citizens
(Shinto: The Way of the Gods).
Most worship is carried out privately, usually in the home or in a shrine.
Worship carried out in the home usually revolves around the Kami-dana, or the Shelf of the Gods. This altar is a model of the "holiest center of a shrine," and is given a central place in many homes. A mirror is placed in the center, which connects the Kami to the altar
(Shinto: The Way of the Gods).
Most worship, however, is carried out in a shrine. Before a worshipper may enter the shrine, he or she must engage in
Misogi,
or the act of cleansing one's body. In past times, this consisted of bathing in a river near the shrine, but today only requires the washing of one's hands and rinsing of one's mouth before entering.
After participating in Misogi, worshippers then pass through the Tori, the special gateway to the shrine that serves as the demarcation between "the finite world and the infinite world of the Gods
(Religious Tolerance)."
Once worshippers enter the shrine, they present an offering to the Kami, usually of money or food, and then pray.
A celebratory form of worship is called Kagura, which are ritual dances accompanied by ancient musical instruments. These dances are performed by skilled and trained dancers (either young virgin girls, a group of men or a single man). Many Shinto rituals are also performed by priests, who often live on the shrine grounds.
References and Links
The rituals and practices of Shinto revolve around showing respect and gratitude to ancestral Kami. According to
General Characteristics of a Life Lived in Reverence of Kami
followers should: