Shinto
/ˈʃɪn.toʊ/noun
A Japanese religion centered on ritual, purity, and reverence for kami, or spiritual presences.
Did you know?The name Shinto was adopted to distinguish native kami worship from Buddhism, using Chinese characters that can also read as a phrase meaning “the way of the gods,” giving the tradition a name that sounds like a spiritual path rather than a doctrine.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient China
Chinese
神道
“"Way of the gods" or "divine way"; a phrase later borrowed in Japanese reading.”
6th-8th Century
Japanese
しんどう (shindō)
“A Sino-Japanese reading of 神道, used to refer to divine or sacred ways.”
Nara Period
Japanese
神道
“Native kami worship, especially in contrast with imported Buddhism.”
Medieval Period
Japanese
しんとう (shintō)
“The established pronunciation for the term referring to the indigenous religious tradition.”
Modern English
English
Shinto
“The Japanese religion centered on kami, ritual purity, and shrine practice.”