Within Shinto practice, shintai are understood as the “body” or dwelling place of a kami, the point at which an otherwise invisible presence becomes tangibly located. These sacred objects are ritually purified and carefully enshrined so that the kami may reside in them or descend into them during rites. In this way, the shintai does not function as a mere representation or idol, but as the vessel through which the kami’s presence is made accessible. The shrine itself is thus defined by the kami and its shintai, which together establish the spiritual center of the site and of the community that gathers around it.

In ritual life, shintai serve as the primary focus of worship and offerings. Prayers, formal recitations, and gifts such as rice, sake, or salt are directed toward the inner sanctuary, where the shintai is housed, with the understanding that these acts are offered to the kami who inhabits it. The presence of the shintai allows communication with the divine to be experienced as direct and immediate, even though the object itself is not the ultimate object of devotion. Through this arrangement, the relationship between human beings and kami is mediated in a concrete yet reverent manner.

The physical form of shintai can vary widely, encompassing both natural and crafted objects. Natural formations such as stones, trees, or mountains may serve as shintai, as can mirrors, swords, carved wooden figures, or scrolls bearing sacred writings. Whatever the form, the object is treated with great care and respect, typically kept in the innermost sanctuary, often wrapped and hidden from public view. This concealment reinforces the sense of a boundary between the sacred and the ordinary, underscoring the purity and otherness of the kami that dwell there.

During certain festivals and ceremonies, the role of shintai extends beyond the fixed shrine precincts. Portable shrines may carry shintai through surrounding communities, symbolizing the movement of the kami and allowing its blessings to be shared more widely. In all these functions, shintai stand at the threshold between the visible and the invisible, anchoring the presence of kami in specific forms and places so that reverence, gratitude, and petition can be meaningfully expressed.