Shinto

I have a Japan trip coming up late October to early November. I am thinking about visiting several random places in the country which is not typical tourist spots. Yes, I will have to go to Tokyo, but I am not going to spend too much time there. My understanding and curiosity about Japan is long standing and it is rather strange that I haven't visited the country yet. I love several elements of Japanese culture and its various facets, so focusing on anything in particular is rather hard for me. In fact that is the very reason it took me so long to visit, because I have always been planning a grand trip and that trip is never happening. So finally I have decided that I will just go there and will figure out randomly what I feel like visiting. It is not going to be perfect, not even close, but my life or thoughts is never perfect. So that's that.

Before, I write too many things things about Shinto, I must confess that I am no expert on the subject, and I am simply writing this because this is what I am thinking right now. Also I must say, I am an atheist. I am born Hindu, but I am not religious Hindu. That said I am very deep knowledge of Hindu and Buddhist philosophy and I have studied both extensively.

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That picture above is Itsukushima Shrine near Hiroshima. Whenever you look up Japanese philosophy of beliefs (Shinto) that that picture often show up. I am getting into the significance of the Torii (gates), but I must backtrack a bit on the core belief of shinto. The core worldview of Shinto, meaning "Way of the Kami," is animistic, polytheistic, and deeply rooted in nature and the indigenous traditions of Japan.

Kami:

The world is filled with divine spirits called Kami. Kami are not transcendent (outside of the world) but immanent—they reside in and are part of the world. They can be forces of nature (sun, mountains, waterfalls), spirits of ancestors, or particularly impressive or awe-inspiring objects/people.

Emphasis on Purity and Harmony:

The goal of life is to live in harmony with the kami and the natural world. Maintaining purity (kiyome) is paramount, as impurity (kegare) separates a person from the kami. Shinto rituals, like the washing at a temizuya, are primarily focused on purification (harae) to restore this harmony.

Celebration of Life and the Present:

Shinto is largely concerned with this world and promoting life, fertility, growth, and prosperity. It is a religion of affirmation, celebrating the beauty of nature and the interconnectedness of all life.

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Significance of Torii

The torii gate is arguably the most recognizable symbol of Shinto and holds a profound spiritual and practical significance. The primary function of a torii is to mark the transition from the mundane world to the sacred world of the kami. When you step through a torii, you are entering a space where the divine resides. It's a symbolic threshold, a physical representation of the spiritual boundary. For this reason, it's customary to stop and bow before passing through the gate.

In other words, Torii is simply a portal.

Passing through the torii is an act of spiritual purification, a preliminary step before approaching the shrine's main halls. This is why you often find a temizuya (purification fountain) just inside the torii—it allows visitors to ritually cleanse their hands and mouth to remove kegare (impurity) before entering the truly sacred precincts.

The approach to a shrine, known as the sandō, is often marked by a series of torii gates. The center of this path is called the seichū and is reserved for the kami. It is considered respectful for human visitors to walk along the sides of the path, leaving the center clear for the deities.

For anyone in Japan, the presence of a torii is the simplest way to identify a Shinto shrine and distinguish it from a Buddhist temple. This visual cue has become so iconic that a small torii icon is used on maps to represent Shinto shrines.

Torii gates come in various styles, materials, and colors, each with its own specific meaning. While many are made of wood and painted in a striking vermilion—a color believed to ward off evil spirits—others are unpainted, made of stone, or even bronze. The famous thousand torii gates at Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto, for example, were donated by businesses to show gratitude to the kami Inari for prosperity.

I do not know if I will have a chance to visit Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto or not, the place is mostly mobbed with tourists, and I will be one more! I am not sure I want that, but man, the images are spectacular!

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Anyways, before this rambling post get too long, here are some of the places I am thinking about visiting. Obviously this is impossible, no human can visit this many places in 10 days! But, these are just dots on google maps so far, even if I can visit 5 of these places in 10 days I will consider myself happy.

Similarity between Hinduism and Shinto

Before I close this thought, I find these two be quite close. Both are not really a religion per se, it is just a way of life at a region of the planet. It is an indigenous philosophy that evolved organically out of the ancient traditions, myths, and nature worship of the people over centuries, both for Shinto and Hindu. It developed from pre-literate village cults and agricultural rituals, rather than from a single charismatic prophet or teacher. Also there are no unique book! Which I love a lot!

If I make a table, perhaps my scattered thoughts will be better organized...

Feature	Shinto	Hinduism
Origin	Indigenous Japanese, evolved from ancient nature and ancestral worship.	Indigenous Indian, a synthesis of diverse traditions and philosophies.
Founder	None (No single historical founder).	None (No single historical founder).
Deities	Polytheistic, centered on Kami (divine spirits in nature, ancestors, or powerful forces).	Polytheistic/Henotheistic; millions of gods/goddesses, often seen as manifestations of the ultimate reality (Brahman).
Sacred Texts	No single canonical text; core mythology found in Kojiki and Nihon Shoki.	Extensive canonical texts including the Vedas, Upanishads, and epics like the Mahabharata and Ramayana. However, none can be said to be singular.
Focus of Life	Living in this world, achieving purity (kiyome), harmony with kami and nature, and celebrating life.	Focuses on spiritual liberation (Moksha) from the cycle of rebirth (Saṃsāra), governed by Karma and Dharma (duty).
Goal/Afterlife	Focus is on the present; little emphasis on heaven/hell. The deceased become ancestral kami.	Liberation (Moksha) from the cycle of rebirth (Saṃsāra) is the ultimate goal.

You see, they diverged towards the bottom, especially in focus of life and afterlife. For a proper Hindu afterlife is a big deal, rather the 'only deal'; because the present life, the current life is just 'a matrix'! :) More on the Matrix later, someday!