There are many religions in the world. Some are better known than others. One of the lesser known Asian religions is the Japanese religion, Shintoism. It has existed for millennia and is one of Japan's many religions. It is the original religion of the Japanese Empire. The origins of Shintoism are difficult to pin down. There is no single person or group known to have started Shintoism (Molloy p256). The history of mysteries dates back to the ancient people of Japan and their tradition of how the world began. It seems that this religion arose from human awareness of the power of nature. This brings people who practice Shinto closer to nature. They also believe that sprites inhabit all parts of nature. Today, Shintoism is more than just a nature religion. It has ethics and dimensions. There is an aspect of sprite worship to this religion. They worship the spirits of deceased family members and ancestors. They also love great figures in Japanese history, like the emperor who helped modernize Japan (Molly p256). This is not uncommon in ancient religions that worship nature and spirits like this. The name of the religion comes from the translation of a Chinese word shen-dao which means "the way of the gods". The Japanese translation is Shinto. This only happened after Chinese Buddhists arrived in Japan. Before, he didn't have a name. That was exactly what everyone was doing. The heart of Shinto beliefs is sensitivity to the mysterious powers of nature. Their gods are called Kami and are not considered beings living in some other distant realm. Rather like powers in or near this world whose presence could be felt. The Kami are seen in trees and mountains and also in more terrifying storms...... middle of paper ......these cut green bamboo, a small pine branch, and if possible, a spring plum tree. Bamboo means perseverance; the pin, freshness and life throughout the winter; the plum, the first sign of life at the beginning of spring. Together, the green branches of the kadomatsu symbolize human virtue (Molly 268). To summarize, Shintoism is a religion based on nature and ancestors. It is believed that gods and their family members live nearby. To commemorate the gods, they have shrines all over Japan. These sanctuaries can be small or very large. One of the most sacred days is New Year. They emphasize that sex is not a sin and one should be pure in all respects. Also to maintain healthy relationships with the people around you and the gods. Molloy, Michael, 1942-Living the World's Religions: Tradition, Challenge and Change: Third Edition. : Published by McGraw-hill, New York, NY Copyright 2005