Over the centuries elements from Buddhist, Confucian and Taoist traditions influenced the development of Shinto (the Kami were, for a time, identified with the heavenly Buddhas).

Though several centuries in the making, Shinto was not declared the official religion of Japan until the 19th cent.

All foreign (Buddhist) influence was rejected in favor of official return to pure native ways within the religion.

Designed to promote loyalty and dedication to the nation.

Public and national ceremonies reinforced Japanese ways

Japan and the Japanese people thought of themselves as superior over other peoples and nations because they were most closely connected with the Kami (supported by/based on Japanese creation myths and the ideological origin of Japan’s invasions in W.W.II).

Shrine hierarchy under State Shinto (19th cent. - W.W.II):

1. The shrine to Amaterasu at Ise was most important.

2. Then came the Palace shrines to Amaterasu, the deceased emperors and the Kami.

3. Then shrines elsewhere in Japan dedicated to national heroes who have made personal sacrifices for the sake of the nation.

4. 97% of shrines were village shrines dedicated to local Kami these were the greatest in number but least in importance

The emperor of Japan was considered semi-divine (until after W.W.II), descended from the Kami, the link between Amaterasu and the people.

How a man is made into a god: divinity is gained through ritual transformation - the new emperor goes behind a screen into the "womb" of Amaterasu, being taken into the goddess to come out a god. A symbolic "death" and "rebirth" in an altered form. A shamnistic type ceremony reminiscent of Jesus’ death and resurrection - tomb = womb and he comes out with a "glorified body", a new being, a "god-man".

Following Japan's defeat in World War II, the emperor was forced to deny his divinity and State Shinto dissolved.