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I have heard around the time of Christ, possibly a bit earlier.

Answer2:SHINTO is predominantly a Japanese religion. According to the Nihon Shukyo Jiten (Encyclopedia of Japanese Religions), "The formation of Shintoism is almost identical with the Japanese ethnic culture, and it is a religious culture that was never practiced apart from this ethnic society." Although Shinto claims a membership of over 91,000,000 in Japan, which amounts to about three quarters of its population, a survey reveals that only 2,000,000 people, or 3 percent of the adult population, really profess to believe in Shinto. However, Sugata Masaaki, a researcher on Shinto, says: "Shinto is so inextricably woven into the fabric of Japanese daily life that people are barely aware of its existence. To the Japanese it is less a religion than an unobtrusive environmental fixture, like the air they breathe." Even those who claim to be apathetic to religion will buy Shinto traffic safety amulets, have their weddings according to Shinto tradition, and pour their money into annual Shinto festival. The designation "Shinto" sprang up in the eigth century C.E. to distinguish the local religiom from Buddhism, which was being introduced into Japan. "Of course, the Religion of the Japanese '...existed before the introduction of Buddish," explains Sachiya Hiro, a researcher of Japanese religions, "but it was a subconscious religion, consisting of customs and ''mores.' With the introduction of buddishm, however, people became aware of the fact that those mores constituted a Japanese religion, different from Buddhism, which was a foreign religion."

It is difficult to pinpoint a date when the original Shinto, or "Religion of the Japanese," emerged. With the advent of the wetland cultivation of rice, "wetland agriculture necessitated well-organized and stable communities," explains the Kodansha Encyclopedia of Japan, "and agricultural rites-which later played such an important role in Shinto-were developed." Those early peoples conceived of and revered numerous gods of nature.

In addition to this reverence, fear of departed souls led to rites for appeasing them. This later developed into a worship of ancestral spirits. According to Shinto belief, a "departed" soul still has its personality and is stained with death pollution immediately after death. When the bereaved perform memorial rites, the soul is purified to the point of removing all malice, and it takes on a peaceful and benevolent character. In time the ancestral spirit rises to the position of an ancestral, or guardian, deity. Thus we find that the immortal soul belief is fundamental to yet another religion and conditions the attitudes and actions of the believer

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8y ago
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14y ago

It has existed as long as the Japanese Empire. it is basically a form of Buddhism- all Japanese Royals have been Buddhists- with Emperor-worship tacked on ( Tenno-Heika Banzai! Long live the Emperor - Advance! ( the last word, Banzai, can also be interpreted as ( Attack!and was used as such in war films.

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12y ago

There is no real founder of Shintoism. Some people say it dates back to when Japan was first founded.

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16y ago

About 500BCE

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Q: When did the Shinto religion start?
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Related questions

Where did the Shinto religion start?

in japan the shinto religion had started


What is the religion of Shinto?

Shinto is in Japan


Where did Shinto start from?

shintoism, the Japanese religion started primarily in ancient japan.


What is the language of Shinto religion?

Shinto is in Japan


What is japan oldest religion?

Possibly Shinto.


Where does it show area of the world where Shinto religion is practiced today?

Shinto religion is practiced in Japan.


Who invented Shinto?

the Shinto religion was invented by the people of Japan


Do Shinto have to do anything with African culture?

No, the Shinto religion is from Japan.


Where does the religion Shinto come from?

The religion Shinto comes from Japan! It is thought to be old as Japan itself! There are no founders of Shinto! They believe in something called Kami!


What religion originated in Japan?

The religion that is unique to japan, is known as Shinto


What is the oldest religion of Japan.?

The oldest religion of Japan is animism. Then came Shinto.


What was the religious affiliation of Hirohito?

SHINTO was the official Japanese religion (Emperor Hirohito was Japan).