o emphasized the importance of loyalty, gratitude, courage, justice, truthfulness, politeness, reserve, honor, and mental and bodily discipline. When a Bushido warrior was dishonored, he was expected to kill himself by hara-kiri. Worship in Shinto is to express gratitude to the gods and to secure their honor. During certain times of the year, large festivals take place to worship events such as spring planting, the fall harvest or to celebrate historical events. Some festivals may last for a few days. During a Shinto festival, people wearing special dresses carry the kami through the streets in palanquins. Decorated floats accompany them, where people play the drum, flute and other traditional Japanese instruments. However, some celebrations may be celebrated more privately at home or at a neighborhood shrine. Shrines are places of worship and dwelling of the Shinto gods. Inside a shrine there are sacred symbols that represent the kami, and are located in the innermost part where they cannot be seen. People visit the shrines to pray for such things as good fortune and to turn away evil spirits. The common way to pray at a shrine is to first purify your self by cleaning your hands and mouth with clean water. Then throw a small offering, such as a coin, in to the box in front of the sanctuary. Then bow twice deeply, clap your hands twice, bow deeply once more and pray for a few seconds. If you are sick, or have an open wound, or are mourning you are not supposed to visit the shrine. These things are considered to be impure. The word affirmation, which means “things we agree are good”, is used to describe the basic beliefs of Shinto. In Shinto there are The Four Affirmations that are:Tradition and the family- Family is extremely important because traditions are passed down through families. The main celebrations are birth and marriage.Love of nature- Being in contact with nature brings you closer to the...
