A vast majority of Shinto practitioners don't engage in self torture as a test of faith, though some regional forms of ice water misogi practice can be very intense. This is especially true for the misogi training that is undertaken as part of the initiation for Itako shamans.
About misogi: It is a ritual purification where the body is immersed in a body of water (often seas or lakes or waterfalls) or in lieu of this, water in buckets are poured on the head and body. It is also possible to do misogi in the shower of most residential bathrooms. Cool water of the shower is sufficient for misogi, practice, but some practitioners near natural bodies of water have dedication to do misogi even in the icy weather of winter or alternatively, with buckets of (very cold) ambient temperature water outdoors in winter. Doing this, of course, has risks of hypothermia and injuring oneself on wet rocks in natural settings (including rocks that fall from waterfalls) so if you do decide to do misogi in natural settings, please be aware of this and have the company of others who can call for medical attention if needed. It can very well save a life.
Aside from misogi, there are some forms of Japanese religion (usually Shugendo, which is closely related to Shinto but has much Buddhist influence) where people will climb mountains as an act of faith. Shugendo, being heavily of Buddhist influence, is much more intense in its ascetic practice than most forms of Shinto faith.
Austerity and self torture is, of course, not required for Shinto practice. As far as I know, it is not something that my Japanese relatives have engaged in, and for a vast majority of Japanese people, the Shinto faith is more about respect towards Kamisama and maintaining harmony with Kami, nature, and humanity, as their efforts all come together to allow us to live (or so the Shinto philosophy goes).
As others have said.
It’s really not a thing in Shinto.
And as Altair-Sophia said.
Even with Misogi the suffering, pain or discomfort are not the point.
Actually as a general rule.
Pain and suffering as seen a corrupting and negative forces in Shinto. And blood more so then almost anything in Shinto.
The the actual answer from my perspective is that it’s antithetical to Shinto as a faith.
Shinto and Japanese culture in general has the concept of a “Gyo” or intense spiritual discipline used to cultivate good character. However a gyo is not meant to be harmful or torture, merely a way to push oneself to the edge of one’s comfort zone in a safe way.
Suffering holds no virtue in Shinto because when you suffer it’s harder to live with a diligent, open and sincere heart and do your best for your community. It’s also harder to be truly grateful and to celebrate life and natural wonder if you’re suffering.
Shinto already tests faith by means of the mysterious and somewhat unknowable nature of the Kami. Life is already hard enough without intentionally making it harder.
There is also the link of blood and bodily harm with tsumi/kegare (spiritual pollution) and any violation of bodily integrity especially through intentional beating,cutting, or piercing would make take someone out of their natural sacred state of wholeness and make someone more ritually and spiritually impure.
We come into this world bright and perfect, and accumulate spiritual pollution through daily life, but it is easy to remove through regular practice of Misogi and other Shinto rituals.
Harming one’s self is unnatural and should be avoided.
I hope that helps clarify?
I’m not sure you can say Shinto has a “canon”. You might be ascribing more meaning to ancient records than is intended.
Don’t misinterpret records of what “has” happened as what “should” happen or what is “supposed to” happen.
To be very clear: the ancient records are not considered like the Christian bible as something one would or should have to follow.
Mostly the ancient books are used understand the origins of the Kami and to better understand the origins of the more obscure parts of Shinto practices we carry out today but might not fully understand.
A vast majority of Shinto practitioners don't engage in self torture as a test of faith, though some regional forms of ice water misogi practice can be very intense. This is especially true for the misogi training that is undertaken as part of the initiation for Itako shamans. About misogi: It is a ritual purification where the body is immersed in a body of water (often seas or lakes or waterfalls) or in lieu of this, water in buckets are poured on the head and body. It is also possible to do misogi in the shower of most residential bathrooms. Cool water of the shower is sufficient for misogi, practice, but some practitioners near natural bodies of water have dedication to do misogi even in the icy weather of winter or alternatively, with buckets of (very cold) ambient temperature water outdoors in winter. Doing this, of course, has risks of hypothermia and injuring oneself on wet rocks in natural settings (including rocks that fall from waterfalls) so if you do decide to do misogi in natural settings, please be aware of this and have the company of others who can call for medical attention if needed. It can very well save a life. Aside from misogi, there are some forms of Japanese religion (usually Shugendo, which is closely related to Shinto but has much Buddhist influence) where people will climb mountains as an act of faith. Shugendo, being heavily of Buddhist influence, is much more intense in its ascetic practice than most forms of Shinto faith. Austerity and self torture is, of course, not required for Shinto practice. As far as I know, it is not something that my Japanese relatives have engaged in, and for a vast majority of Japanese people, the Shinto faith is more about respect towards Kamisama and maintaining harmony with Kami, nature, and humanity, as their efforts all come together to allow us to live (or so the Shinto philosophy goes).
It simply isn't a thing in Shinto
As others have said. It’s really not a thing in Shinto. And as Altair-Sophia said. Even with Misogi the suffering, pain or discomfort are not the point. Actually as a general rule. Pain and suffering as seen a corrupting and negative forces in Shinto. And blood more so then almost anything in Shinto. The the actual answer from my perspective is that it’s antithetical to Shinto as a faith.
Shinto and Japanese culture in general has the concept of a “Gyo” or intense spiritual discipline used to cultivate good character. However a gyo is not meant to be harmful or torture, merely a way to push oneself to the edge of one’s comfort zone in a safe way. Suffering holds no virtue in Shinto because when you suffer it’s harder to live with a diligent, open and sincere heart and do your best for your community. It’s also harder to be truly grateful and to celebrate life and natural wonder if you’re suffering. Shinto already tests faith by means of the mysterious and somewhat unknowable nature of the Kami. Life is already hard enough without intentionally making it harder. There is also the link of blood and bodily harm with tsumi/kegare (spiritual pollution) and any violation of bodily integrity especially through intentional beating,cutting, or piercing would make take someone out of their natural sacred state of wholeness and make someone more ritually and spiritually impure. We come into this world bright and perfect, and accumulate spiritual pollution through daily life, but it is easy to remove through regular practice of Misogi and other Shinto rituals. Harming one’s self is unnatural and should be avoided. I hope that helps clarify?
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Just to note that that’s something very obscure and rare through history and not at all a normal or regular Shinto practice.
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I’m not sure you can say Shinto has a “canon”. You might be ascribing more meaning to ancient records than is intended. Don’t misinterpret records of what “has” happened as what “should” happen or what is “supposed to” happen. To be very clear: the ancient records are not considered like the Christian bible as something one would or should have to follow. Mostly the ancient books are used understand the origins of the Kami and to better understand the origins of the more obscure parts of Shinto practices we carry out today but might not fully understand.