Shinto

Since Shinto has no founder or central creationist figure, but rather is an ancient set of beliefs that was formally incorporated into Japanese society with the influx of Confucianism and Buddhism, understanding the complex web of tradition, ritual, prayer, kami, and jinja can be daunting. This glossary provides you with a general overview of Shinto definitions, key terms, names, and figures that repeatedly appear across the study of Shinto.

The spirits or gods of Shinto are known as kami. Yet, calling these entities 'gods' is not quite correct because kami actually includes a wide expanse of supernatural beings or forces. Kami takes on many meanings depending on the context and it doesn't just refer to the Western concept of God or gods, either. 

Every Japanese emperor and empress in the long line of familial succession can trace their ancestry and divine right to rule directly to the deities that, according to Japanese mythology, formed the islands of Japan from the murky darkness of the earth below the heavens.

Shinto (meaning the way of the gods) is the oldest indigenous system of belief in Japanese history. Its beliefs and rituals are practiced by more than 112 million people.