the ancient words for soul in other languages, suggesting wind, air, or breath." (112) Four spirits are mentioned: the spirit to rule with authority, ara-mi-tama, the spirit empowered to lead to harmony or union, nigi-mi-tama, the spirit causing mysterious transformations, kushi-mi-tama, and the spirit imparting blessings, saki-mi-tama. The early Japanese believed a person has several kinds of souls. Shintoism believes that a persons soul can temporarily leave their bodies. Many rituals are dedicated to the pacifying of the soul. Shinto's view of human nature is that it is fundamentally good, there is no inherent evil or badness in people. The worlds of the Kami and humans is believed to be the same. They live and participate with another. Humans are believed to be the descendants of Kami and have them in their flesh. There is no final goal of heaven or paradise. The goal of the faith is the flourishing of all people. Having the right inner attitude includes having the right attitude towards nature. Shinto lacks a judgmental approach to life as well as any code of law. Shinto shrines are typically very simple and always constructed of wood. They "have never built a stone cathedral; their holy places were temples of nature wherein a group of huge trees rivaled a Gothic tower."(Underwood 50) Every Shinto shrine has a tori-i standing at its entrance. "It is a simple structure, either in wood or stone, made up of two quadrangular beams laid horizontally above the head and supported by two round columns."(51) The shrines are generally made up of two rooms. The first room is one of general worship where all devotees can use. The other room is upon only to the priesthood and contains the emblem of the deity to which it is dedicated. Each temple also has a gohei, which is "a small pole of wood or bamboo in which is inserted a piece of paper or cloth, so cut that the two parts hang down on the two sides of the pole and ...
