Characteristics of Shinto

Shinto is often referred to as polytheistic, because there are many Kami that are classified in three ways: amatsukami (heavenly Kami), kunitsukami (earthly Kami) and yaoyorozu no kami (myriad other Kami).

Kami are therefore not necessarily deities in the sense that is usually understood, but possess a wide variety of spiritual powers and attributes.

Shinto can therefore be described as polytheistic in the context of its amatsukami, who correspond most closely to the idea of “gods.” However, it is also important to remember that all Kami are interconnected and spring from a single source-the essence of Shinto.

Kami are both many and one, both individual entities and parts of a whole. The three categories of Kami are not rigidly divided, but interact and overlap. Therefore the term “polytheism” is far from a full definition of Shinto. It is only partially descriptive, and is useful only when it helps us to understand that Shinto is a path of peaceful coexistence, in which each person’s beliefs and experiences are valued.

It does not matter how one believes in and chooses to describe the divine power or powers, as long as that belief is not used to justify destructive ambitions, or to do evil to others.

Another point is that Shinto neither excludes mystical abilities nor praises them excessively.

If a person is a Shintoist, he or she knows very well the fact that various kinds of mysterious phenomena occur. He or she also knows the dangers that can arise through mystical experience, and how such experiences should be handled.

Some argue that Shinto is profane, but this displays a misunderstanding of its nature and essential characteristics.

I certainly understand that Buddhism interprets this worldly existence as suffering, so it has a strong tendency to seek salvation in the other world.

Shinto, by contrast, is at its core a life-affirming faith. Living in the world is a positive experience, but it is not regarded as the only reality and never should the presence and power of an “unseen” world be denied.

Shinto values nature and life. This is because Shinto originally arose from a sense of gratitude and awe toward great nature. Japanese ancestors loved nature, from animals and plants to mountains and rivers. This love of nature is intrinsic to the Japanese character, influencing its art forms as well as spiritual practices, even in a modern, urbanized nation where millions of people have little apparent contact with nature.

In this age when human beings are destroying mother earth in the pursuit of material progress, we should reclaim our love for nature and let it inform our daily lives and spiritual practices.

Shinto is, ultimately, such a simple belief that anybody can accept and practice it. It neither requires special intellectual ability nor does it demand a life-denying asceticism. As long as people understand the attitudes associated with cleanness and brightness (happiness) and rightness and straightness (honesty), they can start from those points and advance further along the path to explore more profound themes.

One of the strengths of Shinto is that it can allow people to find their own level of practice and experience, without being physically or intellectually overwhelmed, but gaining as much spiritual awareness as practitioners of more stringent or austere paths.