Sinto and Daoim
Comparative Aspects of Shinto and Daoism
Gibbons Emily
Foothill College Shinto and Daoism have a fascinating relationship. Shinto is the first major religion of Japan, and Daoism of China. While there are immense differences between the two, from origin to theology, Shinto and Daoism are uniquely different, and at the same time share many traits. Some of which were incorporated into Buddhism, the successor of the two religions. Shinto, unlike Daoism and Buddhism was not first a philosophy, but a mythology, present in some clans in Japan. In roughly 500 BCE the Yamato clan adopted this mythology, calling it the Shinto religion, meaning “The Way of the Gods”, in hopes that this would spread throughout and help unify Japan. The Yamato clan soon became the Yamato dynasty, and Shinto was the official religion. Since there is no founding individual or group, Shinto is sometimes referred to as a natural religion[1], the exact origins of the mythology are unknown. Daoism began as a philosophy; the first literary work, Dao De Jing meaning Book of the Way and Its Power, roughly emerged around 551 BCE[2]. Lao Zi, which translates to Old Master, is assumed to have written this. It wasn’t until 142 CE, after the Way of the Celestial Masters was founded that Daoism became a religion. The differences here are that Shinto was never a philosophy, but a mythology. It did not have a religious text. Daoism was the opposite, first being a philosophy and having a religious text. Shinto is a polytheistic religion, with no omnipotent god. All the gods are part of the kami meaning God or Spirit[3], and it is believed that everything in nature is encompassed with kami. In the Shinto faith the Emperor is a descendant of the Sun Goddess, he represents the Sun[4], but is not a god himself. “It is man, who appears not as a creature of the gods, but as a child born of the kami.” (Picken 11). It was believed that the Emperor was in contact with the kami, and through ceremonial practices
Gibbons Emily
Foothill College Shinto and Daoism have a fascinating relationship. Shinto is the first major religion of Japan, and Daoism of China. While there are immense differences between the two, from origin to theology, Shinto and Daoism are uniquely different, and at the same time share many traits. Some of which were incorporated into Buddhism, the successor of the two religions. Shinto, unlike Daoism and Buddhism was not first a philosophy, but a mythology, present in some clans in Japan. In roughly 500 BCE the Yamato clan adopted this mythology, calling it the Shinto religion, meaning “The Way of the Gods”, in hopes that this would spread throughout and help unify Japan. The Yamato clan soon became the Yamato dynasty, and Shinto was the official religion. Since there is no founding individual or group, Shinto is sometimes referred to as a natural religion[1], the exact origins of the mythology are unknown. Daoism began as a philosophy; the first literary work, Dao De Jing meaning Book of the Way and Its Power, roughly emerged around 551 BCE[2]. Lao Zi, which translates to Old Master, is assumed to have written this. It wasn’t until 142 CE, after the Way of the Celestial Masters was founded that Daoism became a religion. The differences here are that Shinto was never a philosophy, but a mythology. It did not have a religious text. Daoism was the opposite, first being a philosophy and having a religious text. Shinto is a polytheistic religion, with no omnipotent god. All the gods are part of the kami meaning God or Spirit[3], and it is believed that everything in nature is encompassed with kami. In the Shinto faith the Emperor is a descendant of the Sun Goddess, he represents the Sun[4], but is not a god himself. “It is man, who appears not as a creature of the gods, but as a child born of the kami.” (Picken 11). It was believed that the Emperor was in contact with the kami, and through ceremonial practices
Cited: A Separate Peace: Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, and Shintoism. Films Media Group, 1998. Films On Demand. Web. 19 March 2013. McNaughton, William. The Taoist Vision. Charles, David. Patheos. n.p. 2008. Web. 16 March 2013. Michigan: The University of Michigan Press, 1971. Print. Lee, Sherman E.. A History of Far Eastern Art. Fifth ed. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1994. Print. Picken, Stuart D.B.. Shinto Japan’s Spiritual Roots. Tokyo: Kodansha International Ltd., 1989. Print. “Shinto Belifs.” Carroll, Jill. World-religions-professor. 2009. Web. 17 March 2013. “Tao.” Center of Traditional Taoist Studies. Great Master Anatole. 2009. Web. 17 March 2013.