Kamism

Shinto is an animist religion practiced by the Gao-Showa of Gishoto. It is quite similar in both beliefs and practices to Qamido of Indrala and the two are closely linked. The main belief of Shinto is that all things have their own spirit or Kami and that these should be held in reverence. Shinto literally translates as Way of the Gods

Afterlife
Unlike many religions, one does not need to publicly profess belief in Shinto to be a Shintoist. Whenever a Gao-Showa child is born in Gishoto, a local priest adds the child's name to a list kept at the shrine and declares him or her a named child. After death a named child becomes a named kami. One may choose to have one's name added to another list when moving and then be listed at both places. Names can be added to the list without consent and regardless of the beliefs of the person added to the list. However, this is not considered an imposition of belief, but a sign of the welcome of the area kami, with the promise of addition to the pantheon of kami after death. Those children who die before addition to the list are called a water child, and believed to cause troubles and plagues. they are often worshipped in a Shinto shrine dedicated to stilling their anger and sadness.

Shinto has long co-existed with Buddhism so it is very difficult to untangle Shinto and Buddhist beliefs about the world. One might say that where Buddhism emphasizes the afterlife and ending the cycle of rebirths; Shinto emphasizes this life and finding happiness within it. Though Buddhism and Shinto have very different perspectives on the world, most Gao-Showa do not see any challenge in reconciling these two very different religions, and practice both. Thus it is common for people to practice Shinto in life yet have a Buddhist funeral. Their different perspectives on the afterlife are seen as complementing each other, and frequently the ritual practice of one will have an origin in the other.

Four affirmations
Though Shinto has no absolute commandments for its adherents outside of living "a simple and harmonious life with nature and people", there are said to be "Four Affirmations" of the Shinto spirit:


 * Tradition and the family: The family is seen as the main mechanism by which traditions are preserved. Their main celebrations relate to birth and marriage.
 * Love of nature: Nature is sacred; to be in contact with nature is to be close to the kami. Natural objects are worshipped as containing sacred spirits.
 * Physical cleanliness: Followers of Shinto take baths, wash their hands, and rinse out their mouth often.
 * Tsurigo: Any festival dedicated to the Kami, of which there are many each year.

Impurity
Shinto teaches that certain deeds create a kind of ritual impurity and that one should want cleansed for one's own peace of mind and good fortune, not because impurity is wrong in and of itself. Killing living beings should be done with reverence for taking a life to continue one's own, and should be kept to a minimum. The modern Gao-Showa continue to place great emphasis on the importance of ritual phrases and greetings in order to show proper respect and thankfulness to others. Failure to show proper respect can be seen as a lack of concern for others, looked down on because it is believed to create problems for all. Those who fail to take into account the feelings of other people and kami will only bring ruin on themselves. The worst expression of such an attitude is the taking of another's life for personal advancement or enjoyment. Those killed without being shown gratitude for their sacrifice will hold a grudge and become a powerful and evil kami that seeks revenge. This same emphasis on the need for cooperation and collaboration can be seen throughout Gao-Showa culture today. Additionally, if anyone is injured on the grounds of a shrine, the area affected must be ritually purified.

Purification
Purification rites are a vital part of Shinto. These may serve to placate any restive kami, for instance when their shrine had to be relocated. Such ceremonies have also been adapted to modern life. For example new buildings made in Eastern Gishoto are frequently blessed by a Shinto priest during the groundbreaking ceremony, and many products made in Eastern Gishot have been blessed as part of the assembly process. A more personal purification rite is the purification by water. This may involve standing beneath a waterfall or performing ritual ablutions in a river-mouth or in the sea. A third form of purification is avoidance, that is, the taboo placed on certain persons or acts. Although this aspect has decreased in recent years, religious Ga-Showa will not use an inauspicious word like "cut" at a wedding, nor will they attend a wedding if they have recently been bereaved.

Shrines
The principal worship of kami is done at public shrines, although home worship at small private shrines (sometimes only a high shelf with a few ritual objects) is also common. It is also possible to worship objects or people while they are still living. While a few of the public shrines are elaborate structures, most are small buildings in the characteristic Gao-Showa architectural style. Shrines are commonly fronted by a distinctive Gao-Showa gate made of two uprights and two crossbars. These gates are there as a part of the barrier to separate our living world and the world the kami live in. There are often two guardian animals placed at each side of the gate and they serve to protect the entrance. There are well over 100,000 of these shrines in operation today, each with its retinue of Shinto priests. Kami are invoked at such important ceremonies as weddings and entry into university. The kami are commonly petitioned for earthly benefits: a child, a promotion, a happier life. While one may wish for ill fortune on others, this is believed to be possible only if the target has committed wrongs first, or if one is willing to offer one's life. Though Shinto is popular for these occasions, when it comes to funerals most Gao-Showa turn to Buddhist ceremonies, since the emphasis in Shinto is on this life and not the next. Almost all festivals in Eastern Gishoto are hosted by local Shinto shrines and these festivals are open to all those that wish to attend. While these could be said to be religious events, the Gao-Showa do not regard these events as religious since everyone can attend, regardless of personal beliefs.

Gods
Shinto teaches that everything contains a kami ("spiritual essence" which is translated into "god"). Every rock, every squirrel, every living and nonliving thing contains a kami. There is also a main kami for groups of things: for example, there is a kami within a rhino, and there is also a main kami residing over all the rhinos of the world.