Kami & Religion
The kamis of Hisari are a strange, largely nebulous group of entities. Much like within the rest of Rinthara, the gods aren't known beings of history. Rather, they are collections of beings that have entered peoples' consciousness over the centuries, and through shared experiences have come to become related to certain emotions or ideals. These sometimes conflicting ideals have created spheres of influence and domains in which these entities are said to command, and various stories and mythologies were then created and passed down through the ages surrounding these beings. No one knows ultimately if these entities are real or merely manifestations of human desire. At the end of the day, the faith that has sprung up in their wake is, and that's all those of true belief need to know.
Major Kami
The most prolific and most common kami that have connected with people are dubbed "Major Kami". They are considered the main entities in control of their spheres of influence; even though there is overlap between the Minor and Major Kami, the Minor Kami are seen as secondary or even sometimes tertiary. Most of the major named shrined across Hisari exist to venerate the Major Kami, leaving smaller home-style shrines or out of the way locales to watch over the Minor Kami.
The Major Kami are the ones that most people grow up learning about, being centre-points of classic folklore and literature. Many festivals throughout the year exist to pay tribute or give thanks to these entities, and in some cases as a means of renewing the memories that keep their faith afloat.
Places with high amounts of spiritual energy seem to induce these connections more frequently, and as such shrines were set up in these locations. Deep within the forests to become closer to nature, up at the peaks of mountains to touch the sky, or near gates to the Fey Courts; these are just some examples of notable shrine locations.
Groups of priests, known as Miko, live at and attend these shrines. Different shrines have different styles of offering. Common ones are Ema boards in which visitors write their wishes on wooden plaques and hang them up, large stages for Kagura or Noh performances, and Omikuji strips that act as fortune telling.
Every Shinto Shrine has an "inner" or "main" hall in which no outsider is allowed to come into. These locations tend to have the scrolls of the kami's mythologies, stories, as well as the inner shrine in which the kami is supposed to enter and live. Only the Miko and exorcists are allowed into these main halls, being seen as a place where only those that give their lives in worship to the kami can make their presence known. Many outer scholars look to these main halls, as well as anyone interested in "forbidden" knowledge.
A hallmark of many a Shinto Shrine, albeit not exclusive to them, are Torii Gates. These mystical gates have a powerful spiritual connection to them, acting as focal points for various spells and divine foci. As a result, many a Shinto shrine has been set up around them. The ones placed within these shrines are considered "inert", being mostly harmless to people who walk near them.
However, they are others that are treated with extreme caution, as they act as portals to other planes. While the majority of them act as conduits between the Material Plane and the Fey Courts, some have much more unsavory connections. These more distasteful Torii Gates are cordoned off or at times even buried, being notably difficult to completely destroy. In present day, most Torii Gates that are easily accessible to people have become inert, the secret rituals to re-open them being lost to the shrines that once housed them. There are still those in difficult to reach places, however, that maintain their connection untouched by outside influences.
Kamidana are miniature shrines kept within peoples' homes. These small wooden shrines are used to depict places in which the wandering kami can live and rest in, allowing the divinity to enter a family's household. Typically, they carry sprigs of fresh sakaki, as well as miniature jars of sake, rice, and sometimes sweets.
Oftentimes, families will also place small wooden plaques with the names of the family member and ancestors within smaller kamidana, serving as places of respect for one's heritage and for one's present. Kamidana are often universally placed in places with easy access: in dining areas, areas in which guests enter, by the front door.
Major Kami
The most prolific and most common kami that have connected with people are dubbed "Major Kami". They are considered the main entities in control of their spheres of influence; even though there is overlap between the Minor and Major Kami, the Minor Kami are seen as secondary or even sometimes tertiary. Most of the major named shrined across Hisari exist to venerate the Major Kami, leaving smaller home-style shrines or out of the way locales to watch over the Minor Kami.
The Major Kami are the ones that most people grow up learning about, being centre-points of classic folklore and literature. Many festivals throughout the year exist to pay tribute or give thanks to these entities, and in some cases as a means of renewing the memories that keep their faith afloat.
- Amaterasu - Goddess of the Sun
- Tsukuyomi - Goddess of the Moon
- Susanoo - God of Storms and the Sea
- Hachiman - God of War
- Inari - God of the Harvest
- Raijin - God of Thunder
- Fuujin - God of the Wind
- Tenjin - God of Wisdom and Intelligence
- Uzume - God of Joy
- Suijin - God of Water
Minor Kami
While the Major Kami are very well-known, "Minor Kami" is a term which encompasses all of the lesser known entities. These kami tend to be only known by the local populace, being "deities" that have deep cultural roots in the immediate village or city. Some more benevolent yokai have even risen to the ranks of Minor Kami, being given tribute and thanks for their help to people in ages past and having shrines devoted to their worship. The shrines to Minor Kami tend to be incredibly out of the way, being small statues and offering boxes in the middle of forests or in a small local shrine for the village. As such, their spheres of influence tend to be much more hyper-focused on smaller aspects instead of being all-encompassing forces of nature.- Amatsumara - God of Iron-Working
- Ame-no-Wakahiko - Goddess of Grains
- Hoderi - God of the Sea's Bounty
- Kawa-no-Kami - God of Rivers
- Kagutsuchi - God of Fire
- Kuebiko - God of Agriculture
- Shinatsuhiko - Goddess of Wind
- Sukunabikona - God of Medicine and Sake
- Tajimamori - God of Confections
- Tatsuta-hime and Tatsuta-hiko - Pair of the Autumn Winds
Shinto Shrines
Places with high amounts of spiritual energy seem to induce these connections more frequently, and as such shrines were set up in these locations. Deep within the forests to become closer to nature, up at the peaks of mountains to touch the sky, or near gates to the Fey Courts; these are just some examples of notable shrine locations.
Groups of priests, known as Miko, live at and attend these shrines. Different shrines have different styles of offering. Common ones are Ema boards in which visitors write their wishes on wooden plaques and hang them up, large stages for Kagura or Noh performances, and Omikuji strips that act as fortune telling.
Every Shinto Shrine has an "inner" or "main" hall in which no outsider is allowed to come into. These locations tend to have the scrolls of the kami's mythologies, stories, as well as the inner shrine in which the kami is supposed to enter and live. Only the Miko and exorcists are allowed into these main halls, being seen as a place where only those that give their lives in worship to the kami can make their presence known. Many outer scholars look to these main halls, as well as anyone interested in "forbidden" knowledge.
Torii Gates
A hallmark of many a Shinto Shrine, albeit not exclusive to them, are Torii Gates. These mystical gates have a powerful spiritual connection to them, acting as focal points for various spells and divine foci. As a result, many a Shinto shrine has been set up around them. The ones placed within these shrines are considered "inert", being mostly harmless to people who walk near them.
However, they are others that are treated with extreme caution, as they act as portals to other planes. While the majority of them act as conduits between the Material Plane and the Fey Courts, some have much more unsavory connections. These more distasteful Torii Gates are cordoned off or at times even buried, being notably difficult to completely destroy. In present day, most Torii Gates that are easily accessible to people have become inert, the secret rituals to re-open them being lost to the shrines that once housed them. There are still those in difficult to reach places, however, that maintain their connection untouched by outside influences.
Kamidana Shrines
Kamidana are miniature shrines kept within peoples' homes. These small wooden shrines are used to depict places in which the wandering kami can live and rest in, allowing the divinity to enter a family's household. Typically, they carry sprigs of fresh sakaki, as well as miniature jars of sake, rice, and sometimes sweets.
Oftentimes, families will also place small wooden plaques with the names of the family member and ancestors within smaller kamidana, serving as places of respect for one's heritage and for one's present. Kamidana are often universally placed in places with easy access: in dining areas, areas in which guests enter, by the front door.
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