WORLD RELIGIONS

Detailed explanation-1: -Shinto is an ancient Japanese religion. Starting about 500 BCE (or earlier) it was originally “an amorphous mix of nature worship, fertility cults, divination techniques, hero worship, and shamanism.” Its name was derived from the Chinese words “shin tao” ("The Way of the Gods") in the 8th Century CE.

Detailed explanation-2: -While several institutions and practices now associated with Shinto existed in Japan by the 8th century, various scholars have argued that Shinto as a distinct religion was essentially “invented” during the 19th century, in Japan’s Meiji era.

Detailed explanation-3: -Early adoptions of Shinto beliefs are believed to have emerged in the period of the Yayoi culture (c. 300 BCE-300 CE), and the earliest written record that describes Shinto is the “Kojiki” (“Record of Ancient Matters”), dating 712 CE.

Detailed explanation-4: -Introduction. Shinto does not have a founder nor does it have sacred scriptures like the sutras or the Bible. Propaganda and preaching are not common either, because Shinto is deeply rooted in the Japanese people and traditions.