Japanese mythology

Japanese mythology, with its rich animistic heritage, has undergone significant evolution since the 6th century CE. During this time, amid the growing influence of Buddhism, traditional beliefs came to be known as Shinto, meaning "the way of the gods." Early deities such as Amaterasu, the sun god, and Inari, the harvest god, played a key role in the spiritual life of the Japanese. Over time, Shinto evolved, merging with Buddhism and developing into emperor worship. Its revival occurred in the 18th century, leading to its recognition as the state religion in the 19th century.

Until the 6th century AD, various animistic cults were practiced in Japan. When Buddhism began to spread in Japan, to distinguish it from the new religion, known as "but-sudo" (the way of the Buddha), the old beliefs were called Shinto—from the Chinese word for "way of the gods." In later times, the two religions overlapped.

The main deities of the early development of Shinto were:

kami - "deity", any force capable of transforming reality Amaterasu - goddess of the sun, born from the eye of Izanagi, grandmother of Ninigi and ancestor of Jinmu Susanoo - god of the ocean and winds Inari - deity of harvests, whose messengers are foxes

Over time, ancestor and nature worship began to transform into the cult of the emperor, considered a descendant of Amaterasu (through her great-great-grandson Jinmu). In the 7th century, Shinto was replaced by a religious doctrine known as Ryobu Shinto, deeply imbued with Buddhism. Shinto, in its more primitive form, began to be revived in the 18th century. In the 19th century, after the fall of the last shogun, it was recognized as the state religion and adopted the name Kokka Shinto.