Shintoism

• Distinctive ethnic religion of japan
  
• Forces of nature, including rivers trees, rocks and some animals, but mainly the sun and moon are considered divine
  
• Transmitted orally through generations
  
• Fifth century ad, written down with the introduction of Chinese characters
  
• Emperors and other ancestors became more important deity figures.
  
• Emperor Meiji (1868-1912) made Shintoism the official state religion making him the official god of Japan. Therefore, Shinto is a political cult as all Japanese were shintoists
  
• After WWII, allies forced Japanese emperor to renounce his divinity. He was allowed to keep his ceremonial powers.