Shintoism

Question 1

What do we know about the founder and founding of Shinto?

Answer 1

Nothing really

Question 2

Among what group is Shinto believed to have had its origins?

Answer 2

Japanese military

Question 3

Approximately when is Shinto Believed to have been founded?

Answer 3

Before 6th Century CE

Question 4

What is the most common religion in Japan?

Answer 4

Shintoism

Question 5

What is the oldest religion in Japan?

Answer 5

Shintoism

Question 6

What is the second most common religion in Japan?

Answer 6

Buddhism

Question 7

Other than being symbolic, what are mirrors used for in Shinto?

Answer 7

Used in rituals, temples and shrines

Question 8

Why do Japanese often feel comfortable practicing more than one religion at a time?

Answer 8

Syncretism, more of a lifestyle than a religion

Question 9

What are samurai?

Answer 9

Members of the Shinto Military

Question 10

Why is it believed that Shinto has limited theology?

Answer 10

So old, absence of canonical texts and founder

Question 11

What does the term “Shinto” mean?

Answer 11

“They way of the gods”

Question 12

What two things typically come to mind when a practitioner of Shinto hears the term “God”?

Answer 12

Kami and Amaterasu

Question 13

What are “Kami”

Answer 13

Divine beings that are everywhere

Question 14

Who is the Shinto goddess of the sun?

Answer 14

Amaterasu

Question 15

The Gods of Shinto are less like the Judeo-Christian God. and more like what deities?

Answer 15

More similar to those in polytheistic belief systems

Question 16

How many kami and how many islands did Izanami give birth to?

Answer 16

Eight islands, plus six more, lots of kami

Question 17

What did Izanagi slam over the entrance to the underworld?

Answer 17

Slammed a boulder or a large comb

Question 18

Why did Izanagi go through a ritual washing after discovering his wife in the underworld?

Answer 18

He had been contaminated by the impurities of the land of the dead

Question 19

Who did the Shinto goddess of the sun marry?

Answer 19

Married the god of the moon, Tsukuyomi

Question 20

How was the sun goddess’ husband able to get her out of the cave she had withdrawn into?

Answer 20

Other deities helped lure her out

Question 21

The 3rd great-grandson of the sun goddess became what?

Answer 21

Jimmu Tenno, the first emperor of Japan

Question 22

What are shoguns?

Answer 22

Early government officials

Question 23

In Shinto, to be close to nature is equivalent to being close to what?

Answer 23

Close to God

Question 24

Believing practitioners of Shinto have traditionally believed that the emperor of Japan was a descendant of whom?

Answer 24

Amaterasu

Question 25

The land of Japan is different from the rest of the earth in what sense?

Answer 25

Heavenly Land

Question 26

What are the three types of kami that we discussed in class?

Answer 26

1. Defied powers in nature 2. Clan ancestors 3. The souls of celebrated or famous dead people

Question 27

Are kami localized or omnipresent?

Answer 27

Omnipresent

Question 28

What does the phrase "kamikaze" mean?

Answer 28

"divine wind"

Question 29

What is the two-fold purpose of life in Shinto?

Answer 29

Appease the Kami, celebrate Japan

Question 30

What is the primary "rite" in Shinto?

Answer 30

Ritual washings

Question 31

What is traditionally found outside of Shinto shrines, and used prior to entering a shrine?

Answer 31

Torii gate, wooden ladle

Question 32

What kind of things do practitioners of Shinto use as offerings?

Answer 32

Paper on prayer rolls

Question 33

What are two symbols of the sun goddess that we discussed in class?

Answer 33

Yata no Kagami- Eight span mirror Hinomaru- Circle of the sun

Question 34

Why does one clap prior to offering one's prayers?

Answer 34

Gets the attention of the Kami, shows respect and invites the Kami

Question 35

Three things which can be done to make one's prayer more efficacious:

Answer 35

Purity, sincerity, respect

Question 36

What are matsuri in Shinto?

Answer 36

Holiday/festival to appease the Kami

Question 37

What does the current Japanese flag look like?

Answer 37

Red disc representing the sun, "land of the rising sun" representing Amaterasu

Question 38

What is Bushido?

Answer 38

Code of honor for Samurai 1. Gratitude and courage 2. Justice 3. Truthfulness 4. Politeness 5. Reserve 6. Honor 7. Allegiance

Question 39

At what point did Shinto become the state religion of Japan?

Answer 39

In the late 19th century, 1868

Question 40

What caused Shinto to no longer be Japan's state religion?

Answer 40

After WWII, the allies separated Shinto from the state