Shinto

Have you ever felt a quiet wonder when you see a very old tree with mossy branches, or heard the happy babble of a stream running over smooth stones? That's me. I'm the spirit in the sunshine that warms your face and the power in the tall mountain that touches the clouds. For a long, long time, people in the beautiful islands of Japan felt me everywhere, but they didn't have a name for me. I was just a part of their world, a reason to say thank you to the forest for its wood and the river for its water. I was the feeling that everything in nature, from the tiniest bug to the biggest storm, had a life and a spirit inside it.

To feel closer to me, the people of Japan built special places called shrines. These were peaceful spots where they could visit and feel close to the spirits, or kami, in nature. Then, around the 6th century, a new idea called Buddhism arrived from far away. It was a wonderful new friend, but people wanted a way to talk about their own ancient beliefs that had been around forever. That’s when they finally gave me my name: Shinto. It means 'the way of the kami.' So I wasn't forgotten, wise people wrote down all the old stories in special books during the 8th century. These books, called the Kojiki and the Nihon Shoki, told amazing tales of how the world was made and about powerful kami like Amaterasu, the goddess of the sun, who is one of my brightest lights.

Today, you can still find me all over Japan. When you see a big, beautiful gate, often painted bright red, called a torii, you know you are entering one of my sacred places. People visit my shrines to celebrate happy festivals, to wish for good luck in the new year, or just to enjoy a moment of peace and quiet. I remind people to live in harmony with the amazing world around them, to keep their hearts clean and pure, and to honor their families. I am the quiet respect for a cherry blossom and the joyful noise of a festival. I am Shinto, and I hope I can help you see the magic in the world, too.