What is Shintoism and what year(s) did it rise?
Shintoism is an indigenous religious belief system originating from Japan. It is often referred to as the "way of the gods" and is the oldest religion in Japan. Shinto predates the introduction of Buddhism and other foreign religions in Japan.
The exact year of the rise of Shintoism is difficult to determine as it evolved gradually over a long period of Japanese history. However, its roots can be traced back to ancient prehistoric times in Japan, where nature worship and animistic beliefs were already present. The earliest recorded references to Shinto rituals date back to the 8th century CE, during the Nara period of Japanese history.
Shintoism gained more formal recognition and codification during the Heian period (794-1185) in Japan. The institution of the Japanese Emperor played a significant role in the development of Shinto as a state religion. However, it was during the Meiji Restoration in the late 19th century that Shinto was revitalized and reshaped as a nationalistic and official state religion, known as State Shinto. After World War II, with the American occupation of Japan, the separation of religion and state was established, and Shinto became a more private and personal belief system for the Japanese people.