From ancient times, the people of the Japanese islands have conducted rites for the kami or gods
through the use of physical objects that were also spiritually potent and objects of faith—connected
to the kokoro or spiritual life. In this exhibition, we turn to the rites or matsuri that have been
conducted throughout Japan at Shinto shrines (jinja)—the locus of faith. This exhibit makes clear
the ways in which physical objects used at shrines were also objects of faith and connected to the
spirit (kokoro) of Japanese religious life. This exhibition also attempts to uncover the characteristics
of Shinto, a foundation of Japanese culture that takes many forms throughout the archipelago and
over the ages.