Shinto

Indigenous religion of Japan. Based on the worship of spirits known as , Shinto has no founder and no official scripture, though its mythology is collected in the (“Records of Ancient Matters”) and (“Chronicles of Japan”), written in the 8th century. The term Shinto (“Way of the ”) came into use to distinguish indigenous Japanese beliefs from Buddhism, which had been introduced into Japan in the 6th century. At Shinto's core are beliefs in the 's mysterious creating and harmonizing power. According to Shinto myths, in the beginning a certain number of simply emerged, and a pair of , Izanagi and Izanami, gave birth to the Japanese islands, as well as to the who became ancestors of the various clans. The Japanese imperial family claims descent from Izanagi's daughter, the sun goddess Amaterasu. All are said to cooperate with one another, and life lived in accordance with their will is believed to produce a mystical power that gains their protection, cooperation, and approval. Through veneration and observation of prescribed rituals at shrines (e.g., ritual purity), practitioners of Shinto can come to understand and live in accordance with divine will. In the early 21st century, Shinto had nearly 2.8 million followers. See also .

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