In Shinto, it is believed that gods reside in all things, and that gods exist in every phenomenon. As the phrase "eight million gods" suggests, it is believed that gods reside in all natural phenomena. Mountains and other natural features are also objects of worship, and disasters are sometimes deified. There are many cases in which powerful figures or those who died with grudges are worshiped as gods to protect them from curses. The Shinto view of life and death is similar; upon death, a person becomes a godlike figure who protects their family, including their children and grandchildren. While Shinto deifies ancestors and worships their spirits, this differs significantly from the Buddhist view of life and death, which is based on reincarnation.
In Shinto, Shinto funerals are held instead of funerals. Death is considered "impurity," and the purpose of Shinto funerals is to "purify" and "exorcize" this "impurity." Shinto funerals are held to inform the ancestral spirits of the deceased, who are the guardian deities of the deceased, to send them back to their ancestors, and to pray for the protection of the family left behind. In Shinto, the soul is extremely important, and the body is considered merely a vessel. Therefore, the loss of the body is not something to mourn. Because physical death is considered a disaster and impurity, funerals are rituals to purify the deity with the power of the gods. Shinto funerals are also ceremonies to make the deity the guardian deity of the household.
Furthermore, because Shinto considers human death itself to be impure, funerals are not held at shrines, where gods reside. If a household has a Shinto altar, it is sealed away to prevent impurity from touching the deity residing there. The Kojiki and Nihon Shoki also record that death was deeply abhorrent and feared, and that in the age of the gods, death was considered something to suffer.
Shinto funerals differ in several ways from Buddhist ceremonies. In Shinto funerals, a tamagushi stand is set up, and the altar and coffin are placed on it. Tamagushi are made of paper streamers tied to branches of the sakaki tree, a tree believed to house deities. These are offered to the deity. If clapping is required, it should be done silently using the ninju method. Incense is not burned, and prayer beads are not used. Words like "kuyo" (memorial service) or "meibuku" (rest in peace) are not used. When expressing condolences, one would say, "I'm so sorry for your loss. I offer my deepest sympathy" or "I'm so sorry this was unexpected. I hope you never lose heart."
In Shinto's view of life and death, upon death, a person becomes a guardian deity who protects the family. Since the body was originally a vessel for the soul, the loss of the body is not something to mourn. However, Shinto considers death to be a sign of impurity or disaster, and funerals are rituals to exorcise these. Shinto is a long-standing religion in Japan, said to date back to the Jomon period. Even after Buddhism was introduced to Japan and became widespread, Shinto remains deeply rooted in Japanese history and culture.
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