These kami’s had human characteristics such as behaving badly, sulking, curiosity, and laughter. They enjoyed entertainment such as dance. They are not all powerful beings.
The story of Amaterasu and Susanoo starts off with a feudamongkamis. A kami named Izanagi gave Amaterasu the power to rule the land which made Susanoo infuriated, which led to him throwing tantrums that got him banished from heaven. Susanoo is known as an important and powerful kami that has the power to prevent disasters. His actions hurt Amaterasu, so she fled to a cave depriving the world of light and bringing darkness to the land. The other kamis lured her out with dancing and laughter. When she came out of the cave to see what was happening the kamis grabbed her and persuaded her to take her proper place in the cosmos.
Origins:
Shinto derives from the Chinese word “Shin Tao” meaning “The Way of the Gods”
Shinto is one of Japan’s most prestigious ancient religions
It incorporates the ways of ancient Japan with the practice of today’s modern Japanese society
It became an official religion of Japan with 84% of Japanese people following both Shinto & Buddhism as they are very similar in their basic concepts of happiness in human nature
Religion and Status:
The Shinto priesthood has six different grades: -The Superior, The First, The Second, The Semi-Second, The Third, The Fourth
Shinto priesthood has five ranks: -Johkai, Srikai, Meikai, Gon-Seikai, Chokkai, Guji (The highest rank of Chief priest)
In order to achieve any of these high positions of power and peace you have to go through the proper education for each individual status.
Unlike a lot of religions women can be priests although there are few.
There are 2,000 known women priests in a grand total of 20,000 priests.
Forms of Shinto:
Koshitsu Shinto
Jinja Shinto
Kyoha/Shuha Shinto
Minzoku (Folk) Shinto
Koshitsu Shinto (The Shinto of the Imperial House):
Koshitsu focuses on the rituals that are performed by the emperor. This is often referred to as “The symbol of the stat and of the unity of the people”. The ritual of Niinamesai is known as the most important ritual performed. This is because it is done to thank the deities for the first harvest of the year with this performance.
Jinja (Shrine) Shinto:
This adaptation of the Shinto religion is known as the original form. It is the largest Shinto group. Koshitsu and Jinja were once very alike because the people of Jinja worshiped the emperor as a living God. They have approximately 80,000 shrines dedicated to the many Gods and spirits known as “kami” of the earth, land, and world. There is no central power that is being worshiped because each shrine has an individual history and differ from one another depending on where they are located.
Kyoha (Secrarian) Shinto (aka. Shuha Shinto):
Shuha is broken up into 13 different sects, each of which that follow its very own beliefs and specific kami. Shuha Shinto follows some of the same basics as the original religion but has strayed the most of the first beliefs of this religion.
Minzoku (Folk) Shinto:
Minzoku or more often referred to as Folk Shinto is most alike to the original form of Shintoism. It is not really separated from Jinja Shinto in regards to beliefs but the past emperor segregated them because Folk Shinto had disorganized practices and beliefs of the commoners and needed to sort out official festival and ritual dates.
Brief History of Shintoism:
The origin is as old as the history of the Japanese itself. It was towards the 6th century when the Japanese were conscious of these activities and called them “Way of Kami”. Shinto established itself as the official religion of Japan along side Buddhism.