The Essence of Shinto

Abstract

SHINTO is national religion of Japan and pivot on which whole life of Japanese nation revolves. We call Japan the country of Gods. Shinto was principle on which country was founded at beginning of time and which has been guiding influence in Japanese national life throughout its long history of thousands of years. Japan imported Chinese morals as well as Chinese written characters in reign of Emperor Oojin (201-301) and Buddhism in reign of Emperor Kinmei (540-571). Great progress in fields of science and philosophy resulted. It was in early days of Tokugawa Shogunate Government, or even little before that time, that Occidental civilization gradually found its way into Japan and that most conspicuous and epoch-making event in history of Japan occurred, namely, arrival of American fleet under command of Commodore Perry in 1853. It was, indeed, a thunderbolt hurled from out clear skies. Our nation very quickly grasped situation and opened up friendly intercourse with America and other countries. These foreign civilizations had so great an influence that it was sometimes felt almost to threaten disaster to Japanese national civilization. In spite of this, however, Japan has been able to adopt these foreign civilizations and to make great advance in all branches of science and in social organization. The contact of two different civilizations often brings about confusion of ideas, causing split in community and even sometimes bringing disaster upon less civilized nation. When we look at history of our country we find that Japan has always been able, in some way or other, to overcome these critical periods without experiencing any great calamity. Does this not prove that Japanese civilization was not inferior in substance to that of other countries?