The Trail of the Serpent
A religion that is indigenous, intrinsic. Yet, it has no founder. It has no central sacred text. It has no clear beginning. It has no supreme or creator being. It has no central authority or doctrine. No moral code. Yet, it is everywhere. It is manifest in every living thing- the mountains, the wind, the rivers, the seas. It is Japanese Shinto, indigenous and intrinsic to Japan.
Some scholars project that it may have started around 300 BCE according to some archaeological evidence, but it is not clear. It spans the history of Japan. It is polytheistic. That is, there are many spirits (kami) in nature, sometimes in people. Anything that inspires a sense of awe can become kami. Rites and rituals are prescribed to keep one in harmony with nature and kami. There are about 100,000 Shinto shirines in Japan to keep people mindful of respect for kami. Rituals are usually centered around cleansing and purification. Water and salt are essential.
For example, westerners may have heard of the term "kamikaze" during WWII. It was a term used for the suicide mission of Japanese pilots toward the end of the conflict. But the term has a long history. When the Mogul empire attempted to spread to Japan, a great wind (kaze) at sea turned back the invasion. Kami kaze- spirit of wind- saved the Japanese people. History and tradition are honored in Japan. Rituals of purification, both private and public, are maintained. It is a religion "not so much interested in things to be believed, but rather, in things that should be done."
The Torii or gateway you will see in the following video are all over Japan. They are demarcation points that tell you when you are entering sacred space. I have seen one far out on the end of a rocky ridge that disappears in the sea. In the episode below you will see a Torii as you enter the temple grounds. The Torii is entwined with a rice straw serpent. Long ago a great pestilance enveloped the land. The people went to the priest to ask for advice. He had a vision that told him that the people should fashion a rice straw serpent and parade it through the streets. They did so, and the pestilence abated. So, every year a festival, Daija, is celebrated where the town takes down the old serpent and replaces it with a new one. Two videos follow. First, the old serpent at the gate, Torii. Then the blessing of the new serpent followed by a parade.
The following day they carry the Omikoshi, the palenquin with the local deity. They carry it in rhythm, "Whashoi! Whashoi!" , through the streets of the city. And they let a white guy, like me, help!!! Such an honor to be included in this important ritual!!!. They gave me instructions: Keep in rhythm with the rest of the porters. Rest it on your shoulders. Don't let it bounce up and down on your shoulders. Make room for others. It will be kind of tight. Just keep in rhythm. You all flow together. And one more thing. You will feel like you have been hit by a truck after it is over.
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