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Shinto
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Ancient Shinto focused on the worship of the kami, a host of supernatural beings that could be known through forms (objects of nature, remarkable people, abstract concepts such as justice) but were ultimately mysterious." /> <meta name="referrer" content="no-referrer" /> <meta property="og:site_name" content="InfoPlease" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.infoplease.com/religion/shinto" /> <meta property="og:title" content="Shinto" /> <meta property="og:description" content="Shinto comprises the religious ideas and practices indigenous to Japan. Ancient Shinto focused on the worship of the kami, a host of supernatural beings that could be known through forms (objects of nature, remarkable people, abstract concepts such as justice) but were ultimately mysterious." /> <meta property="og:image" content="https://www.infoplease.com/themes/ip/images/og_logo_pos.jpg" /> <meta property="og:updated_time" content="2017-02-11T12:23:04-05:00" /> <meta name="Generator" content="Drupal 10 (https://www.drupal.org)" /> <meta name="MobileOptimized" content="width" /> <meta name="HandheldFriendly" content="true" /> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" /> <style>div#sliding-popup, div#sliding-popup .eu-cookie-withdraw-banner, .eu-cookie-withdraw-tab {background: #0779bf} div#sliding-popup.eu-cookie-withdraw-wrapper { background: transparent; } #sliding-popup h1, #sliding-popup h2, #sliding-popup h3, #sliding-popup p, #sliding-popup label, #sliding-popup div, .eu-cookie-compliance-more-button, .eu-cookie-compliance-secondary-button, .eu-cookie-withdraw-tab { color: #ffffff;} .eu-cookie-withdraw-tab { border-color: #ffffff;}</style> <script type="application/ld+json">{ "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Article", "headline": "Shinto", "name": "Shinto", "description": "Shinto comprises the religious ideas and practices indigenous to Japan. Ancient Shinto focused on the worship of the kami, a host of supernatural beings that could be known through forms (objects of nature, remarkable people, abstract concepts such as justice) but were ultimately mysterious.", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "representativeOfPage": "True", "url": "https://www.infoplease.com/themes/ip/logo.png", "width": "2582", "height": "1722" }, "datePublished": "2017-02-11T12:23:04-0500", "dateModified": "2022-09-09T13:08:55-0400", "author": { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://www.infoplease.com", "name": "Infoplease" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://www.infoplease.com", "name": "Infoplease", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://www.infoplease.com/themes/ip/logo.png", "width": "280", "height": "100" } }, "mainEntityOfPage": "https://www.infoplease.com/religion/shinto", "articleBody": "Shinto comprises the religious ideas and practices indigenous to Japan. Ancient Shinto focused on the worship of the kami, a host of supernatural beings that could be known through forms (objects of nature, remarkable people, abstract concepts such as justice) but were ultimately mysterious. Shinto has no formal dogma and no holy writ, though early collections of Japanese religious thought and practice (Kojiki, “Records of Ancient Matters,” A.D. 712, and Nihon shoki, “Chronicles of Japan,” A.D. 720) are highly regarded.Shinto has been influenced by Confucianism and by Buddhism, which was introduced in Japan in the 6th century. Syncretic schools (such as Ryobu Shinto) emerged, as did other sects that rejected Buddhism (such as Ise Shinto).Under the reign of the emperor Meiji (1868–1912), Shinto became the official state religion. State Shinto, the national cult, emphasized the divinity of the emperor, whose succession was traced back to the first emperor, Jimmu (660 B.C.), and beyond him to the sun goddess Amaterasu-o-mi-kami. State Shinto was disestablished after World War II.Sect Shinto, deriving from sects that developed during the 19th and 20th centuries, continues to thrive in Japan. Shrines dedicated to particular kami are visited by parishioners for prayer and traditional ceremonies, such as presenting a newborn child to the kami. Traditional festivals celebrated at the shrines include purification rites, presentation of food offerings, prayer, sacred music and dance, and a feast.No particular day of the week is set aside for prayer. A person may visit a shrine at will, entering through the torii (gateway). It is believed that the kami can respond to prayer and can offer protection and guidance.A variety of Shinto sects and practices exist today. Ten-rikyo emphasizes faith healing. Folk Shinto is characterized by veneration of roadside shrines and rites related to agriculture. Buddhist priests serve at many Shinto shrines, and many families keep a small shrine, or god-shelf, at home. Veneration of ancestors and pilgrimage are also common practices.See also Encyclopedia: Shinto. 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data-element-type="we-mega-menu-col" data-width="12" data-hidewhencollapse="0"> <ul class="nav nav-tabs subul"> <li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="c4049b03-08d3-4f01-afb6-c07cb304fef6" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/us" target=""> U.S. Overview </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="11f654b6-17f6-40df-854c-fe1296ea413b" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/us/cities" target=""> Cities </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="927a27e3-bbed-4715-8212-18b1584a403e" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/primary-sources/government" target=""> U.S. Documents </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="af8b257b-83f4-4e60-b30b-36c08a23975b" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/us/gender-sexuality" target=""> Gender Issues </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="0dcfb035-3eda-4f29-816b-466870f8a7bb" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/geography" target=""> Geography </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="9a41a5fe-7153-4201-a22a-4837e354487d" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/us/government" target=""> Government </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="23258840-bc85-4fb0-bb88-ce0239aa0e1f" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/current-events" target=""> News </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="faecca9a-42a4-49c4-a466-504b1b1d757a" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/us/military" target=""> Military </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="b7a741f7-ccd0-45db-9d5d-e0311755e640" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/history-and-government/us-historical-monuments" target=""> Monuments & Landmarks </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="a1522757-57d9-4011-8954-cf72e71a576e" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/us/postal-information" target=""> Postal Information </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="b0f03f17-f878-43df-b447-b46b5450ed4a" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/us/race" target=""> Race & Ethnicity </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="7681b583-1195-42e1-a3ce-91f80e657ed5" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/us/states" target=""> States </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="59e82755-eb02-450d-81cf-dd9e5d00fd6f" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/us/us-statistics" target=""> Statistics </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="78a597de-29f1-4bc8-b0a7-6ed1c8e90bf2" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/culture-entertainment" target=""> Arts & Entertainment </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="859fbbf0-ed65-484c-87d9-1ef9013fdeb0" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/culture-entertainment/sports" target=""> Sports </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li dropdown-menu we-mega-menu-group" data-level="1" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="e1bc4f50-e073-4d69-b307-abd57db40de1" data-submenu="1" hide-sub-when-collapse="0" data-group="1"> <span data-drupal-link-system-path="<front>" class="we-megamenu-nolink">History<i class="arrow down"></i></span> <div class="we-mega-menu-submenu" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-submenu"> <div class="we-mega-menu-submenu-inner"> <div class="we-mega-menu-row" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-row" data-custom-row="0"> <div class="we-mega-menu-col span12" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-col" data-width="12" data-hidewhencollapse="0"> <ul class="nav nav-tabs subul"> <li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="4b93647c-84fc-4a69-99c9-a421fd7559b4" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/history" target=""> History Overview </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="c56361ab-8d10-4c0c-83c7-251a5eb04a38" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/timeline-archive" target=""> Timelines </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="f6bdbafb-edc7-4fe9-b578-9cca0babbf51" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/history/world" target=""> World History </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="7e9ce0c4-b34d-4021-a9a1-51b6f26f2a3f" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/history/us" target=""> U.S. History </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="4ad2a1d4-8110-45ff-864f-61a7e677915c" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/history/black-history" target=""> Black History Month </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="dbbab138-8121-4d5a-a022-8a8af6ff3073" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/history/hispanic-heritage" target=""> Hispanic Heritage Month </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="9646478f-f2ce-49e5-b90d-a26bc85f39d1" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/history/womens-history" target=""> Women's History Month </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="we-mega-menu-col span3" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-col" data-width="3" data-blocktitle="1" data-hidewhencollapse="0"> <ul class="nav nav-tabs subul"> <li class="we-mega-menu-li dropdown-menu we-mega-menu-group" data-level="1" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="823c9906-9f40-4c10-8bb9-57da2519a641" data-submenu="1" hide-sub-when-collapse="0" data-group="1"> <span data-drupal-link-system-path="<front>" class="we-megamenu-nolink">Math & Science<i class="arrow down"></i></span> <div class="we-mega-menu-submenu" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-submenu"> <div class="we-mega-menu-submenu-inner"> <div class="we-mega-menu-row" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-row" data-custom-row="0"> <div class="we-mega-menu-col span12" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-col" data-width="12" data-hidewhencollapse="0"> <ul class="nav nav-tabs subul"> <li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="ad31b703-5dfd-4ea0-bea2-52aff8db39cc" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/math-science" target=""> Math & Science Overview </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="a924bf45-ec7b-4870-97a9-fc046d125d37" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/math-science/aviation" target=""> Aviation </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="0b4e7ad8-b50a-469c-934a-2f3e129fe476" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/math-science/biology" target=""> Biology </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="5d21d31e-4f9b-4610-8779-69692b65c49d" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/math-science/computers-internet" target=""> Computers & Internet </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="789f214d-109b-4b6a-8084-75bbc0aa448d" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/math-science/earth-environment" target=""> Earth & Environment </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="f5853629-653e-45e3-a782-57b0a357fb31" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/math-science/health" target=""> Health </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="e906c067-e474-4ac3-b6fa-d158707529fd" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/math-science/inventions-discoveries" target=""> Inventions & Discoveries </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="1616d2b9-7d57-4980-9559-5bdc425e5e61" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/math-science/mathematics" target=""> Mathematics </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="f306cda5-cdc9-476e-9d51-4e64af61e583" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/math-science/physics" target=""> Physics </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="37a433fe-ab89-4d18-b369-3ea72e8ad9fc" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/math-science/space" target=""> Space </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="92382932-5ad4-4351-832a-94d653aa683c" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/math-science/weather" target=""> Weather </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="7aad6b27-5acb-4bac-8acf-be91c836bbb8" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/math-science/weights-measures" target=""> Weights & Measures </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li dropdown-menu we-mega-menu-group" data-level="1" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="29a78c62-ce20-4f1e-bb70-da47b92141ae" data-submenu="1" hide-sub-when-collapse="0" data-group="1"> <span data-drupal-link-system-path="<front>" class="we-megamenu-nolink">Calendar & Holidays<i class="arrow down"></i></span> <div class="we-mega-menu-submenu" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-submenu"> <div class="we-mega-menu-submenu-inner"> <div class="we-mega-menu-row" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-row" data-custom-row="0"> <div class="we-mega-menu-col span12" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-col" data-width="12" data-hidewhencollapse="0"> <ul class="nav nav-tabs subul"> <li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="7ebfbf4a-de2b-460b-930f-1928372833d7" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/calendars" target=""> Calendar & Holidays Overview </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="4411d1bf-0883-4267-8759-11614e0f285f" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/calendars/history" target=""> Calendars </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="d76efcb5-a742-4b6a-b14d-217d6d76e9ca" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/culture-entertainment/holidays" target=""> Holidays </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="56cc31b3-222b-448a-bf5c-bd325334323d" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/calendars/months-seasons" target=""> Seasons, Months, Days </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="fe1989d7-ce71-4b13-9848-4f86e931467e" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/calendar" target=""> Perpetual Calendar </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="we-mega-menu-col span3" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-col" data-width="3" data-blocktitle="1" data-hidewhencollapse="0"> <ul class="nav nav-tabs subul"> <li class="we-mega-menu-li dropdown-menu we-mega-menu-group" data-level="1" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="460bd358-e183-4af6-a30d-8c241e4f3651" data-submenu="1" hide-sub-when-collapse="0" data-group="1"> <span data-drupal-link-system-path="<front>" class="we-megamenu-nolink">Business<i class="arrow down"></i></span> <div class="we-mega-menu-submenu" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-submenu"> <div class="we-mega-menu-submenu-inner"> <div class="we-mega-menu-row" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-row" data-custom-row="0"> <div class="we-mega-menu-col span12" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-col" data-width="12" data-hidewhencollapse="0"> <ul class="nav nav-tabs subul"> <li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="b1311617-2ec4-4bde-804a-719134a89765" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/business-and-finance" target=""> Business Overview </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" description="Business" data-id="9513d3b1-064f-4a95-9e98-a0c9ed4302f3" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="Business" href="/business/business-statistics" target=""> Business </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" description="Consumer Resources" data-id="4feb0c14-5b30-4a3d-8f9d-8d69a49f82ff" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="Consumer Resources" href="/business/consumer-resources" target=""> Consumer Resources </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="757bd3fa-14b6-4466-8e1f-4d6277557bc9" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/business/money" target=""> Currency </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" description="Economy" data-id="afe3b0e4-dbb8-48db-823f-833990412195" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="Economy" href="/business/economy" target=""> Economy </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="d71a21f6-4513-4b0b-85e3-7536e3c8abb1" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/business/labor" target=""> Employment & Labor </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" description="Personal 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href="/">Home</a> > </li> <li> <a href="/religion">Religion</a> > </li> <li> Shinto </li> </ol> </nav> <h1 class="page-title"><span>Shinto</span> </h1> <section class = "main-section col-sm-12" id="mainaside"> <div data-drupal-messages-fallback class="hidden"></div> <article data-history-node-id="8023"> <div class="update-date"> Updated September 9, 2022 | <a href="/about-us#Our%20Editors"> Infoplease Staff</a> </a> <img src="/themes/ip/images/info-circle.png" title="Updated by an Infoplease Editor on September 9, 2022" height="12px" width="12px" /> </div> <!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --><!-- AddThis Button END --><!--BodyText--> <p>Shinto comprises the religious ideas and practices indigenous to Japan. Ancient Shinto focused on the worship of the <i>kami</i>, a host of supernatural beings that could be known through forms (objects of nature, remarkable people, abstract concepts such as justice) but were ultimately mysterious. Shinto has no formal dogma and no holy writ, though early collections of Japanese religious thought and practice (<i>Kojiki</i>, “Records of Ancient Matters,” <span class="small">A.D.</span> 712, and <i>Nihon shoki</i>, “Chronicles of Japan,” <span class="small">A.D.</span> 720) are highly regarded.</p> <p>Shinto has been influenced by Confucianism and by Buddhism, which was introduced in Japan in the 6th century. Syncretic schools (such as Ryobu Shinto) emerged, as did other sects that rejected Buddhism (such as Ise Shinto).</p> <p>Under the reign of the emperor Meiji (1868–1912), Shinto became the official state religion. State Shinto, the national cult, emphasized the divinity of the emperor, whose succession was traced back to the first emperor, Jimmu (660 <span class="small">B.C.</span>), and beyond him to the sun goddess Amaterasu-o-mi-kami. State Shinto was disestablished after World War II.</p> <p>Sect Shinto, deriving from sects that developed during the 19th and 20th centuries, continues to thrive in Japan. Shrines dedicated to particular <i>kami</i> are visited by parishioners for prayer and traditional ceremonies, such as presenting a newborn child to the <i>kami</i>. Traditional festivals celebrated at the shrines include purification rites, presentation of food offerings, prayer, sacred music and dance, and a feast.</p> <p>No particular day of the week is set aside for prayer. A person may visit a shrine at will, entering through the <i>torii</i> (gateway). It is believed that the <i>kami</i> can respond to prayer and can offer protection and guidance.</p> <p>A variety of Shinto sects and practices exist today. Ten-rikyo emphasizes faith healing. Folk Shinto is characterized by veneration of roadside shrines and rites related to agriculture. Buddhist priests serve at many Shinto shrines, and many families keep a small shrine, or god-shelf, at home. Veneration of ancestors and pilgrimage are also common practices.</p> <p><i>See also</i> Encyclopedia: <a href="/encyclopedia/religion/eastern/buddhism/shinto">Shinto</a>.</p> <p><br /><!--/BodyText--></p> <div class="relContent"> </div> <!-- google_ad_section_end --> <div style="padding:10px 0;"> <div id="ld-2559-4525"> </div> </div> <a href="/religion/confucianism" rel="prev">Confucianism</a> <div class="field_intro_page"><a href="/religion/major-religions-world">Major Religions of the World</a></div> <a href="/religion/taoism" rel="next">Taoism</a> <div> <div class="field_old_url">.com/ipa/0/0/0/1/4/7/A0001472.html</div> </div> <div class="src-wrapper"> <div class="expand-src">Sources +</div> <div class="collapse-src hide"> <div><a href="/sources">Our Common Sources</a></div> </div> </div> </article> <div class="views-element-container block" id="block-views-block-most-popular-block-3"> <div class="home-most-popular 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