Shinto, any answers?

[GoNative]

Originally Posted by Nyororin

But yet they talk to their car when it won`t start, or swear that their (insert inanimate object) only works when they praise it.

I'd call them silly as well!!

[dogsbody70]

not silly if it helps surely.

we all do some crazy things at times that others might laugh at-- its a bit like crossing our fingers for luck etc.

Interesting discussion here.

[steamboatsam]

Originally Posted by TalnSG

In my case it raised more questions than it answered, but it can be very helpful.

So far, Its been the same same experience for me to, but it has been much more informative than some websites I've gone to already

Originally Posted by Nyororin

Kami are anything other than people, really. You can have, for example, the little "kami" of an object, the nature "kami" of a river, and the ancestral one. They`re all right.

Thanks for clearing that for me (Thank you to Steven) , but there just two more questions about kami.
1. How does an ancestor become a kami? Reading from the websites that bELyVIS and TalnSG put up, they are people who were considered of importance (like warheros that died in battle and those who sacrificed their lifes for the betterment of Japan), but if that is case wouldn't a janitor who cleaned a elementry school so the kids can learn in a safer enviroment be considred a kami when he/she passes away because he/she sacrificed his/her health to help the kids?

2. While reading on the website put up by TalnSG, it stated different that kami interact by temporarly connecting with a physical object, including humans. Is it possible for a kami to choose to reside in a single object permanently, and is the idea of kami temporarly possessing a person still thought true?

Originally Posted by steven

You might have seen it happen before or read about it, but Japanese people sometimes apologize to inanimate objects. They will also apologize to small bugs and stuff like that.

No, I have not read or ever heard of that. Don't be sorry for rambling, I like to ramble to and listen to ramblers (if it wasn't for it, I would have never learned about what you said) .

Originally Posted by steven

I've heard people say there are even kami for things like toilets.

Originally Posted by Nyororin

There are - there really is one for everything. Our local shrine has the god of pickling...

Well its always dangerous doing those things cause you never gonna know what will...WHHAAAAAAAAAT
Had to do the joke, sorry if I offended anyone

Originally Posted by Nyororin

It is interesting as a lot of people outside Japan will say this is silly, and that it`s unthinkable... But yet they talk to their car when it won`t start, or swear that their (insert inanimate object) only works when they praise it.

I never found it silly. I thought everybody did it? I always talk to Sophi, my car (yes, I named my car ), when I think something is wrong with her. I also to a moth when I'm throwing it out of the house. It is a little suprising that people do it because of shinto.

Originally Posted by steven

I love it! You always have the most insightful posts about this kind of thing.

Yes, yes she does

Originally Posted by steven

if you treat things nicely (animate and inanimate things) then things usually work out.

That is true in my personal experience.


Few more questions
1. I read that shinto priests and priestesses learn things like archery and swordsmanship. Is it because of ritual purposes, and if so, can someone name a few?

2. Is shinto priesthood hereditary (passes down from parent to child) or could anyone be a priest/priestess?

3. how does practicing shinto affect your day-to-day life? (sorry if this question is a little to personal)

[Nyororin]

Originally Posted by steamboatsam

1. How does an ancestor become a kami? Reading from the websites that bELyVIS and TalnSG put up, they are people who were considered of importance (like warheros that died in battle and those who sacrificed their lifes for the betterment of Japan), but if that is case wouldn't a janitor who cleaned a elementry school so the kids can learn in a safer enviroment be considred a kami when he/she passes away because he/she sacrificed his/her health to help the kids?

Your relatives become "kami" when they die. That`s it. It doesn`t matter what they did, how good or bad they were, etc.
Whether anyone other than your family chooses to recognize them as anything significant, or if the family even considers them that is a different matter. (Remember, without someone believing in it, it doesn`t exist.) People who were incredibly amazing or such in their lives might be considered a local kami and have some kind of community appreciation. Otherwise, it`s basically just praying at a grave. They moved on to some other form of existence.

2. While reading on the website put up by TalnSG, it stated different that kami interact by temporarly connecting with a physical object, including humans. Is it possible for a kami to choose to reside in a single object permanently, and is the idea of kami temporarly possessing a person still thought true?

I have no idea on this one, as it`s not really a concept that would be brought up in normal life. There are items that are supposed to have powerful kami connected with them, but I don`t think there is any sort of direct possession style stuff going on anymore.

It is a little suprising that people do it because of shinto.

Because of Shinto is a bit of a stretch in my opinion. It`s just an explanation for why - not the direct reason. If someone were to ask you why you talk to your car what would you answer? Kami is a convenient answer, I think.

1. I read that shinto priests and priestesses learn things like archery and swordsmanship. Is it because of ritual purposes, and if so, can someone name a few?

Anything to do with ritual is going to be regional. If you are a shrine of arrows, or bows, or swords, etc, you`re probably going to learn something of the like to do with some ceremony. The local shrine of pickling has a pickle festival each year, and the priests and priestesses make pickles that are offered to the kami of pickling. They all know how to make good pickles. If you`re going to have an archery event to honor some kami, then chances are that you`ll learn archery.

2. Is shinto priesthood hereditary (passes down from parent to child) or could anyone be a priest/priestess?

Priests; As far as I know anyone can do it, but most of the time it does end up being hereditary and a second job as it isn`t exactly a huge money maker. There aren`t really a lot of people who want to be priests - it`s pretty common to just have a shrine in your yard and to take care of it on festival days but have a normal day job the rest of the time.
I believe that priestesses have to be related to the priests.

3. how does practicing shinto affect your day-to-day life? (sorry if this question is a little to personal)

I think that you`re looking at this a lot more heavily than people who "practice" do. In general, people in Japan don`t even consider Shinto a religion at all. Almost everyone "practices" - but most people will say that they aren`t religious or that they have no religion when asked.
The only effect on my day to day life is maybe sticking a tiny cup of sake up on the altar thing when I remember. Maybe carrying a charm, having a charm in my son`s kindergarten bag and in my car?

[steamboatsam]

Originally Posted by Nyororin

If someone were to ask you why you talk to your car what would you answer? Kami is a convenient answer, I think.

Tradition I guess, every guy on both sides of my family name each of their vehicles (I think its an American thing). Plus it helps me when I try to work on my car (I'm extremly patient with people and animals, but not as much with objects)

Originally Posted by Nyororin

I think that you`re looking at this a lot more heavily than people who "practice" do. In general, people in Japan don`t even consider Shinto a religion at all. Almost everyone "practices" - but most people will say that they aren`t religious or that they have no religion when asked.
The only effect on my day to day life is maybe sticking a tiny cup of sake up on the altar thing when I remember. Maybe carrying a charm, having a charm in my son`s kindergarten bag and in my car?

So its more like tradition than religion?

[bELyVIS]

Encyclopedia of Shinto - Home

[TalnSG]

Originally Posted by Nyororin

Priests; As far as I know anyone can do it, but most of the time it does end up being hereditary and a second job as it isn`t exactly a huge money maker. There aren`t really a lot of people who want to be priests - it`s pretty common to just have a shrine in your yard and to take care of it on festival days but have a normal day job the rest of the time.
I believe that priestesses have to be related to the priests.

From what I have studied the only reason there seems to a hereditary aspect is because a spouse or child is brought up in that environment and is more likely to fully uderstand and appreciate the responsibilities and demands. It does not seem to be a requirement for either priests or priestesses, just a common expectation that is followed through on.