One of the most characteristic symbols of the Shinto religion is undoubtedly the mirror.
I find it absolutely amazing (and deep) the concept of the mirror is associated with the deity. In Japan
the kamidana, the votive altars to kami, or Shinto deities, not a statue but rather are represented .. from a mirror! I mention this magnificent
definition (taken from INTK forum, post "The Symbols of Shinto Mirror " ):
" The mirror hides nothing, it shines without a selfish mind, inevitably reflects everything good or bad right or wrong. The mirror is the source because it has the virtue of honesty to respond depending on the shape of objects. It reveals the rightness el 'impartiality of the divine will. "
The deity is then is a mirror, because it reflects more faithfully and imparziabilmente all things, is always honest, fair, impaziale.
It is also true that ( cited by Wiki - Shinto ) :
" is very common indeed, particularly in modern Shinto, the use of a mirror to represent the deity. This is the best representation that could be modern man to understand a concept so profound. The mirror is in fact an indication that everything is reflected by its embodiment and manifestation of the gods. "
And this is linked to the pantheistic conception of the beautiful world that God is All, the kami are everything and everything is a kami, or sacred, and everything reflects that it is a landscape or even ourselves, is a manifestation divine.
The photo above is taken by " Starfires " on Flickr, Creative Commons license.
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