State Shinto
State Shinto was the state religion of Japan, officially established in 1882, which emphasized the worship of ancestors and the divine status of the emperor. It evolved from traditional Shinto practices during a period of increased nationalism that began in the Tokugawa era and intensified following the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Central to State Shinto was the belief that the emperor was a direct descendant of the sun goddess Amaterasu, thus holding a sacred status that required loyalty from the Japanese people. Shinto shrines played a crucial role in this state religion, serving as centers for the worship of deities and fostering national unity through reverence for the emperor.
State Shinto also influenced Japan's militarization, particularly during the early 20th century and World War II, where its principles were intertwined with nationalistic fervor. However, following Japan's defeat in the war and the emperor's renouncement of his divine status in 1945, State Shinto was effectively dismantled. As a result, worship shifted from public shrines to private practices, marking a significant transformation in the religious landscape of Japan. Today, while Shinto continues to exist, the state-sponsored form that once defined Japan's national identity is no longer present.
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State Shinto
State Shinto was the state religion of Japan, as established in the nineteenth century. The religion focuses on the worship of ancestors and cult practices related to the dead. The divinity of the emperor is a central premise of the religion, and the Japanese subjects were considered subservient to the divine will of the emperor. The emphasis of State Shinto centered on the unique destiny of the Japanese people and their role in this regard. State Shinto is contextualized within the strong sense of nationalism that emerged in Japan’s Tokugawa period, alongside the 1868 Meiji Restoration, when Shinto was transformed into a religion of the state. Shrines form a key function in the Shinto religion and State Shinto. When State Shinto ended in the mid-twentieth century, worshiping moved from public shrines to the private domain.
Brief History
Shinto Religion. The Shinto religion originated in Japan in approximately 500 BCE. The origins are not traced to a single founder of the religion. There are no written scriptures or canons of religious laws associated with Shinto. From generation to generation, the tradition is passed down. The word Shinto is a derivative of two Chinese words, shin and tao, meaning "the way of the Kami." Kami were religious deities, and various Shinto creation stories elaborate on the Kami, including the legend of the chief deity, a sun goddess, who is an ancestress of the imperial family. Shinto eventually became an official religion of Japan, together with Buddhism, with the majority of the population following an amalgamation of Shinto and Buddhism. Confucianism is regarded as a moral code in lieu of the religion having its own representation. Four affirmations are key to Shinto. These include tradition and the family; love of nature; physical cleanliness; and matsuri festivals, the worshiping and honoring of the Kami and ancestors at shrines.
Four Traditions of Shinto. There are four predominant forms of Shinto. Koshitsu Shinto, or the Shinto of the imperial house, involves a tradition of rituals that the emperor performs. Jinja or Shrine Shinto is the largest and original Shinto form. State Shinto was most closely linked to Jinja Shinto (Shrine Shinto), particularly prior to 1945. Kyoha or Sectarian Shinto, also called Shuha Shinto, is an individualized Shinto form from the nineteenth century. Minzoku Shinto is a folk tradition evident in local rites and rituals. The emperor in Shinto is worshiped as though he were a god.
In 1868, Shinto and Buddhism were officially separated. Shinto was then established as a state religion. At this juncture, Shinto priests received an official ranking in the government. Buddhism, on the other hand, was castigated, with images and temples destroyed. By 1872, the Ecclesiastic Department, the Kyobusho, re-established Buddhist priests to act alongside Shinto priests, and they became recognized as equals as moral instructors in their positions. State Shinto was officially instituted in 1882.
Overview
With the establishment of State Shinto in 1882, Japan experienced Shinto as an official national religion. Education in schools centered on teaching that the emperor was a divine being and was descended from the Shinto deity, Amaterasu. Shinto teachers were supported by the Japanese government.
The Shinto State comprised an office of Shinto worship. This was deemed to be of higher importance than the Council of State. When the Home Ministry took over the office in 1877, control of the Shinto shrines, a significant aspect of the Shinto religion, came under its control. Shinto shrines and some of the Shinto religious sects gained state recognition. During the rule of State Shinto, other religious practices were tolerated. Buddhism, Christianity, and Confucianism were present, with certain Buddhists promoting an Imperial Way Buddhism. This type of Buddhism was affiliated with State Shinto in the sense that there was an identification of religion with the state and with the emperor.
Shinto and Nationalism. The emergence of State Shinto bolstered the nationalistic feelings of Japan. Japan’s constitution clearly stated that Japan’s empire would be governed by a line of emperors. Moreover, it described this line as an unbroken, eternal chain. The emperor’s status was described as sacred and inviolable, with the emperor’s will being sacrosanct. The emperor was perceived to be the manifest Kami, a direct descendant of the original Kami deity. The strong feeling of nationalism dominated the sensibility of the people. A fervent patriotism was prevalent and manifested in the divine worship of the emperor. The idea of venerating the emperor in State Shinto is inextricably linked to the concept of loyalty to the state.
State Shinto and Shrines. Shrines form an important aspect of the Shinto religion and are the place where the worship of deities takes place. The imperial Japanese government supported and sponsored the religious practices of Shinto, with the building of shrines in the early twentieth century—a significant step. These shrines set up State Shinto as the main national religion and facilitated the spreading of Shinto concepts. Furthermore, the goal was to create unity among the Japanese people with a deep reverence for the divine emperor. The Association of Shinto Shrines took over the role of caring for the shrines in 1946 when the state no longer sponsored their construction and supervision.
State Shinto and the Military. State Shinto may have been a way of overriding Japan’s feudal system. From 1920 until 1945, State Shinto was a significant method of creating a militarized society. In the 1930s, this manifested as military episodes in China. During World War II, the military activities resulted in the Pacific Campaign against the United States and allied countries.
The demise of State Shinto occurred in 1945. Two factors contributed to its end as a flourishing state religion. The first was the defeat experienced by Japan in the war, and the second was the emperor’s denial of his status of divinity.
Bibliography
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"Imperial Japan." Sky History, 2015, www.history.co.uk/study-topics/history-of-ww2/imperial-japan. Accessed 3 Feb. 2025.
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"Shinto and Nationalism." BBC, 17 Sept. 2009, www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/shinto/history/nationalism‗1.shtml. Accessed 3 Feb. 2025.
Watt, Paul. "Japanese Religions." Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education, Oct. 2003, spice.fsi.stanford.edu/docs/japanese‗religions. Accessed 3 Feb. 2025.