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Shinto
The Way of the Gods
Shinto in History
Ancient Religion
Resurged during 15th century
Shen Do
Shin = Unfathomable Spiritual
Power
To = tao = way
Also: “Way of the Gods”
Term coined in 8th century to
distinguish Shinto from
Buddhism
Shinto
Currently
National
Religion of
Japan
Historically,
describes
diverse
religious
practices
Tenets
Focus on adapting to life in
this world.
Focus on harmonious living
with the natural environment.
“The dead are not less real
than the living.” (p. 281)
Kami
“That which is particularly
wondrous, whether in nature
or among people, they
accepted as a superior object
of worship, called kami.”
(Eastman, p. 260)
Kami includes:
Deities of earth and heaven
Human beings, ghosts
Birds, beasts, trees, plants,
seas, mountains, etc.
Anything awe-inspiring
Good AND Evil
Anything sacred or mysterious
Kami dragon
Kami respond to
human prayers
and can
influence the
course of
natural fources
and human
events.
Shinto deities
Seated Kami, 12th century
The arrival of
Buddhism in
Japan ca. 9th
century
introduced the
concept of
representational
images. Often
crafted to
resemble male
and female
aristocrats.
Shinto lacks:
Supporting body of
philosophical and moral
literature.
Japanese Art
Characterized by respect for
nature.
Combination of grace,
grandeur and reverence for
subjects.
Winter
Landscape
By Sesshu
Ca. 1470s
Bust of a
Beautiful Lady
Dressed in a
Kimono
Utamaro
Kitagawa
1794
The Great Wave off Kanagawa
Hokusai Katsushika, ca. 1831
Noh Theatre
Actors trained from childhood
Stories from historical, literary
sources (eg. Ca. 1000 C.E.)
Reveals some working out of
passions felt by a character
who often appears as a ghost
Main character usually
masked
Dance, pantomime, opera
Noh Theatre
Tamura: Dance of the Ghost
Noh Theatre
Highly stylized movement
Slow, deliberate, gliding steps
Long entrance to stage from
House Left indicates that it is a
main hero or sidekick.
Traditional Noh Theater
Taiko in Noh
Used ONLY in plays where the
main character is a god,
demon, or some other
nonhuman being.