Shintoism

Shintoism is a Japanese religion. It is characterized by veneration of ancestors and nature spirits. If we see the etymology of this word, we can find and see that it comes of the Japanese words: Shinto that means “Gods”, and do, that means way.  Literally the Shintoism is the way of the Gods. The main idea is the connection between the actual Japan and its ancient past.  The people, who practice and believe in it, try living in harmony, always respecting the natural world.

This religion started around 500 – 600 BC and now the number of followers is believed around 3 – 4 million people. One of the vital parts of it is called “Harae” or purification rite, really it is the lifeblood of the Shintoism.  The most important symbol is the “Torii Gate”, its function in mark or show the entrance to a  sacred space: for the believers it represents the finite and infinite Gods’ ways.