Western texts on Shinto commonly translate kami as spirit or god. Neither term works well for the entirety of kami, which span a wide range of supernatural beings. Amaterasu, for example, is a personalized and unique entity. While representing an aspect of nature – the sun – she also has a name, mythology attached to her, and is commonly depicted in an anthropomorphic form. As such, she resembles the common Western concept of a goddess.
Animistic Spirits:
Many other kami, however, are more nebulous in existence. They are honored as aspects of nature, but not as individuals. Streams, mountains and other locations all have their own kami, as do events such as rain and processes such as fertility. They are better described as animistic spirits.
Ancestral and Human Spirits:
Humans also each have their own kami that lives on after bodily death. Families commonly honor the kami of their ancestors. Family bonds are emphasized in Japanese culture, and these ties do not end in death. Instead, the living and the dead are expected to continue looking after one another.
In addition, larger communities may honor the kami of particularly important deceased persons. In rare instances, the kami of extremely important, living persons are honored.
Western texts on Shinto commonly translate kami as spirit or god. Neither term works well for the entirety of kami, which span a wide range of supernatural beings. Amaterasu, for example, is a personalized and unique entity. While representing an aspect of nature – the sun – she also has a name, mythology attached to her, and is commonly depicted in an anthropomorphic form. As such, she resembles the common Western concept of a goddess.
