Religions of Humanity: Shinto

Product Description

The word Shinto refers to native Japanese religious ideas and practices that date back to the earliest recorded history. Shinto is still practiced by tens of millions of Japanese, particularly at special moments in their life: birth, naming, coming of age, school exams, marriage, moments of community celebration, and times of crisis. Ironically, the name Shinto, designating native Japanese religious life, derives not from the Japanese but from the Chinese words shin tao, meaning "the way of the gods", a term that appeared in the eighth century, after Buddhism and written language were introduced to Japan from abroad.