Shinto

=//**﻿Shinto **// = =**﻿By Rosie, Kourosh and Niamh ** = Shinto has very ancient roots in the Japanese islands. It is the indigenous spirituality of Japan, and the Japanese people. Japan’s earliest histories, the Kojiki and Nihonski, were on the order of the imperial family in 712 AD and 720 AD respectively, for the purpose of justifying the royal lineage, and describe many of the most important Kani. Its practises were first recorded in the 7th or 8th century. One of the main practices is simply visiting shrines. When approaching the entrance you need to bow respectfully before entering. If there is a basin, you need to wash your hands; your left one first, and also rinse your mouth and wash your feet. Approach the shrine, and if there is a bell, ring it prior to prayers. If there is a box for donations, leave one. There will normally be a sequence of bow, and then claps. Hold the second clap and put your hands together in front of your heart for a closing bow after you prayers. As previously stated, it is a ritual in itself, to wash yourself. This is known as purifying yourself. A more devoted practiser might stand under a waterfall to purify themselves. There is no core sacred text in Shinto, a the Bible is in Christianity or Qur’an is in Islam. Instead, there are books of lore and history which provide stories and background to many Shinto beliefs. In the last result, there are about 524, in 1996. And there are about 4 million Shinto followers in the world. To be a good follower of Shinto, you need to regularly perform the rituals or practises of Shinto. <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">There is no set punishment for doing something wrong. It is thought to be like karma, in the way that you might be punished if you sin, but in a different way than other religious beliefs. <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Shinto is practised in public shrines, or small shrines called Kamidana. There are also a few shrines in natural places called Mori. The most common of the Mori are sacred groves of trees, waterfalls or mountains. All of these shrines are open to the public at different times of the year. These public shrines are elaborate structures of Japonese architecture styles. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> All of these shrines have a distinctive Japonese gate called Torri made of two uprights and two cross bars meaning the separation between common space and sacred space. <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Are there any important symbols associated with this religion? What are they?
 * <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">What is the origin of this religion? When/How/Why did it start?
 * <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">What are the main rituals or practices of this religion?
 * <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">What are the main texts associated with this religion?
 * <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">How many people follow this religion in Australia and the World?
 * <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">How can you be a good/devout follower of this religion?
 * <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">What rewards and punishments are associated with the faith?
 * <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">List any important places associated with this religion.
 * <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Upload any images that might have some significance in this religion. Explain their importance.