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Oct 28, 2024 · The word Shintō, which literally means “the way of kami” (generally sacred or divine power, specifically the various gods or deities), came into use in order to distinguish indigenous Japanese beliefs from Buddhism, which had been introduced into Japan in the 6th century ce.
"God" in Japan, or kami, can mean both spirit and god. It refers to a whole animist universe where the kami are everywhere in nature and animate it. Kami-sama is also used to speak of the one God.
- 👫 Izanagi and Izanami (伊邪那岐 / 伊邪那美) Respectively the primal god and goddess, Izanagi and Izanami represent the couple founder of Japan and are also twins.
- ☀️ Amaterasu (天照) The sun goddess Amaterasu was born from her father’s left eye when he was purifying in the river in Ise. One of her brothers is Tsukuyomi (or Tsukiyomi) born from Inazagi’s right eye and deemed god of the moon and the night.
- 🌪 Susanoo (素戔嗚) Amaterasu’s younger brother, Susanoo was born from his father Izanagi’s nose when he purified himself in the river in Ise. The god of storms and destructive nature, he is characterized by being easily angered while being sometimes able of positive acts.
- 🌾 Okuninushi (大国主) A descendant of Susanoo, Okuninushi is the tutelary kami of Izumo Taisha Grand Shrine. A benevolent and generous spirit, whose name means "ruler of the great land", he is notably worshiped as the god of agriculture and medicine.
Apr 30, 2024 · Shinto, which means ‘way of the gods,’ is Japan’s oldest religion, deeply intertwined with the nation’s history, culture, and identity. It revolves around the veneration of kami, spirits, or deities believed to inhabit the natural world, such as mountains, rivers, trees, and animals.
May 22, 2011 · In Japanese parlance, “Kami-sama” ( 神様 、 かみさま) is God, as in, the monotheistic variety. This is simply “kami” plus an honorific, going from god to God, with a capital G. So, the native meaning of “kami” isn’t exactly in doubt.
Apr 3, 2017 · Definition. Shinto means 'way of the gods' and it is the oldest religion in Japan. Shinto's key concepts include purity, harmony, family respect, and subordination of the individual before the group. The faith has no founder or prophets and there is no major text which outlines its principal beliefs.
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Jul 6, 2020 · The Japanese word for god, deity, divinity or spirit is Kami. Kami are the holy forces, spirits, or phenomena that personify the Shinto religion. The ancient spirituality of the Japanese people is the foundation of modernized Shinto.
