What are the main beliefs of Shinto?

The main beliefs of Shinto are the importance of purity, harmony, respect for nature, family respect, and subordination of the individual before the group. There are many Shinto gods or spirits and these have shrines dedicated to them where people offer food, money and prayers.

Why is Shinto not considered a religion by some people?

Some people do not consider Shinto a religion because there is no sacred text or founder and because it emphasises general concepts of how to live. Some people regard Shinto as more about ritual than what a person believes.

How do Shinto and Buddhism coexist?

Shinto and Buddhism coexist in Japan because many people follow both religions since the former emphasises this life and the latter emphasises the next life. Often, sacred sites have both a Buddhist temple and a Shinto shrine. Historically, the two religions have coexisted and many sacred figures have crossed over to appear in the other religion, Hachiman and Amida are examples.

How does Shinto affect Japanese culture?

Shinto beliefs have become so intertwined with Japanese culture that the two are often difficult to separate. The Japanese have a great respect for nature, family, and ancestors, and they often promote the group above the individual. All of these ideas come from Shinto.

Shinto Timeline

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.

More about: Shinto

Timeline

4 BCE
Traditional founding date of the Ise Grand Shrine in honour of the Shinto goddess Amaterasu.
478 CE
The founding of the Toyouke shrine at the Shinto Ise Grand Shrine in Japan.
593 CE
The traditional foundation date of the Shinto Itsukushima Shrine.
711 CE
The Fushimi Inari shrine, dedicated to the Shinto rice god Inari, is founded near Kyoto.
712 CE
The Kojiki is written, a collection of oral myths forming the basis of the Shinto religion.
713 CE
The Japanese Fudoki are composed and record local kami and associated legends.
720 CE
The Nihon Shoki is written, a collection of oral myths forming the basis of the Shinto religion.
725 CE
The Usa shrine is founded in northern Kyushu and dedicated to the Shinto god Hachiman.
c. 759 CE
The Manyoshu or 'Collection of 10,000 Leaves' is written, an important Shinto source and classic of Japanese poetry.
768 CE
Official founding date of the Kasuga Taisha Shinto shrine at Nara, Japan.
794 CE
Emperor Kammu builds the Shinto Herano shrine at Heiankyo (Kyoto).
806 CE
The Shinto shrine of Fujisan Hongu Sengen Taisha is built on Mount Fuji.
c. 807 CE
Imibe-no-Hironari writes the Kogoshui, a collection of oral myths forming the basis of the Shinto religion.
811 CE
The probable historical date for the foundation of the Shinto Itsukushima Shrine.
845 CE - 903 CE
Life of the deified scholar and court official Sugawara no Michizane, aka Tenjin.
859 CE
The Iwashimizu shrine is built and dedicated to the Shinto god Hachiman in Heiankyo (Kyoto).
937 CE
The Shinto god Hachiman is officially recognised as a bodhisattva.
947 CE
The Tenmangu Kitano shrine is founded in honour of Sugawara no Michizane, aka Tenjin.
987 CE
Sugawara no Michizane is officially deified and given the title Tenjin.
1046 CE
Yorinobu claims Hachiman patron god and founder of the Minamoto clan in Japan.
1135 CE
The Wakamiya Jinja shrine is founded at Kasuga Taisha, Nara, Japan.
1149 CE
The Dainichiji temple is built near the peak of Mount Fuji by Matsudai Shonin.
1168 CE
Taira no Kiyomori significantly remodels the Itsukushima Shrine.
1191 CE
The Shinto Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine is moved from Yuinogo to Kamakura, Japan by Minamoto no Yoritomo.