Shinto

Shinto, known as 神道 (Shintō) in Japanese, is the indigenous spirituality of Japan and is a practice deeply interwoven with Japanese culture and identity. Historically, Shinto has no single founder or sacred scripture and is characterized by its veneration of kami, which are spirits or deities associated with natural phenomena, objects, and ancestors. The practice of Shinto involves rituals and festivals to honor the kami, and it emphasizes purity, community involvement, and the celebration of life. Shinto shrines, known as jinja, are ubiquitous in Japan and serve as communal spaces for worship and the performance of traditional rituals. While Shinto is uniquely Japanese, it has been influenced by and has influenced other religious practices over the centuries, notably Buddhism, with which it has a long history of syncretism.