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A religion is defined as a unified system of practices and beliefs relative to sacred places set aside as being divinely demarcated or special. In Japan, the holy sites of the religion of Shinto are mostly shrines, which are found in almost every part of the country (Rots, 2017). These shrines can be islands, mountains, rocks, and trees, as long as they reflect the way of kami (Rots, 2017, p. 184). While every religion has a site that its followers view as holy, I agree that the Shinto faith is best defined by the sacred place considering the spiritual and socio-cultural importance given by the Japanese to the shrines.
The Japanese of Shinto dedicate each shrine to kami, indicating the spiritual importance they attach to the sacred place. Typically, kami is considered by the Shinto as the basis of every being. The followers go to the shrines to seek purification, which is given a deeper spiritual significance due to its association with righteousness or uprightness (Rots, 2017). Moreover, the Shinto religion emphasizes holding prayers at a holy site as a means by which to be connected to kami. Shintoism also sees the sacred place as a power spot, indicating a location where someone can feel a strong, unseen spiritual power that heals the body and mind. Various examples of Shinto Shrines in Japan include but are not limited to Torii, Shimenawa, Meiji, Komainu, and Temizuya (Rots, 2017). These holy places are instrumental to the spirituality of the Shinto faith.
The sacred place has a massive socio-cultural significance to the Shinto religion. First, these sites are viewed as fundamental points of “matsuri” shrine festivals, which are among the essential communitarian events in traditional Japanese culture (Rots, 2017, p. 195). Through matsuri, local community members can establish and strengthen social bonds. Moreover, by performing the same ceremonies as their ancestors, people can guarantee continuity between the past and present. Moreover, the Japanese Shinto express their respect for nature by enshrining such natural features as trees, rocks, deep mountain valleys, and waterfalls instead of destroying them to build churches (Rots, 2017). As a result, it can be argued that sacred place best describes the Shinto belief as incorporates spiritual, societal, and cultural aspects.
Reference
Rots, A. P. (2017). Public shrine forests? Shinto, immanence, and discursive secularization. Japan Review, 30, 179–205.
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