Go Back   Religion Board > Individual Religions > Shinto


Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools
  #1 (permalink)  
Old 09-22-2008, 12:59 AM
WOOHOO's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,661
Default Patron Kami of Shinto?

Does any person place or thing in Japan have a patron Kami? If so what is yours?
I re all want to know who taught you
Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
  #2 (permalink)  
Old 09-26-2008, 12:59 AM
Starkather's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,660
Jami was core an
Reply With Quote
  #3 (permalink)  
Old 09-29-2008, 12:59 AM
Lady Aqua Moon's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,698
Kami are spirits of nature and associated with natural things, big or small. An impressive old tree, an oddly shaped boulder, a bolt of lightning, or a beautiful waterfall could all have Jami. Sometimes you will see a miniature shrine or marker to indicate a place where a minor Jami is thought to visit. Larger shrines are dedicated to more impressive Jami or numerous Jami that inhabit an area.

As far as I know, people don't have patron Jami associated with them. The Imperial line (Emperors) are considered to be descendants of the sun goddess Amaterasu, but Emperors are humans, not Jami. Kami do not regularly interfere with human affairs, but people pray to them out of respect and to hope for good luck.

Western scholars may classify Shinto as a religion, but most Japanese people don't consider Shinto to be a religion or a religious activity (surprisingly many Japanese people don't even know the word "Shinto" even though they have practiced Shinto traditions many times in their lives). Like when you say "Cats have nine lives" or "Breaking a mirror brings 7 years of bad luck," those are superstitions but not considered religious ones. You probably don't know or care about the origins of those superstitions, but they still come to mind when you see a cat or a mirror. Similarly, Shinto is more of a superstition and traditional practice than a religion.
Reply With Quote
  #4 (permalink)  
Old 10-01-2008, 12:59 AM
falconkicker's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,681
Most people don't stick with a single shrine deity but switch around depending on their needs.

For example, Sugawara-no-Michizane is the god of scholarship, so exam-taking students flock to the shrines that deify him to pray to pass their exams.

Okuninushi is the god of matchmaking, so girls and couples go pray to his shrine.

Masakado is the patron to Tokyo, so if Masakado leaves Tokyo for some reason, it's considered doom for the city.
Reply With Quote
  #5 (permalink)  
Old 10-05-2008, 12:59 AM
aponi's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,559
As for your question, Japanse people won't talk about your question here. I think your concept is a bit different. I don't know the suitable word to express Shinto in English. Once translated into English, the meanings always change because the background of the language is different. Even the concept of religion is different.
Do you know Motoori Norinaga(A)? Do you know "kayak akaKiokoro"? It is the natural state of the mind of the Japanese people. And, he also said that "mono no aware." He said Chinese concept like Confucian is contrary to these concepts. I can't express those things correctly in English. Check Motoori Norinaga. If you can understand it, you will understand what I mentioned.
And, I don't like the word "Shinto" because it reminds me of National Shintoism. National Shinto is a ghost of Imperialism. I like old shrines though.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Question for people who believe in SHINTO and worship KAMI? jennyann 4 Shinto 8 09-19-2009 07:05 PM
What are the Roman Catholic Saints and what are they the Patron Saints of? ErynJean Roman Catholicism 5 08-27-2009 12:14 PM
patron saints in Roman Catholicism? turntable Roman Catholicism 3 01-12-2009 06:48 AM
what is shinto place of worsip called and name two basic belief of shinto religion.? Steph S Shinto 4 01-04-2009 04:01 PM
What do you all think about Shinto? mlkappel Shinto 7 04-12-2008 02:35 PM

 
Forum Stats
Members: 14,010
Threads: 50,396
Posts: 543,312
Total Online: 58

Newest Member: telson7

Latest Threads

Advertisement