Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
In Shintoism, kami refers to divine spirits or deities that are worshipped. They can be found in natural elements like mountains, rivers, trees, as well as ancestral spirits.
Related terms
Shinbutsu-shugo: The practice of combining elements of Buddhism with Shinto beliefs and rituals.
Jinja: A term used for Shinto shrines where people go to worship kami.
Matsuri: Traditional festivals held at Shinto shrines to honor and celebrate specific kami or events.