Makoto - Sincerity
The Shinto virtue of truthfulness, genuineness, and sincere devotion.
Makoto is sincerity of heart - the alignment of one's inner feelings with outward expression. In Shinto, sincere devotion matters more than elaborate ritual. A pure, honest heart is the foundation of proper relationship with the kami and with others.
The kami are moved not by elaborate offerings but by the sincerity of the heart.
Makoto is considered the supreme virtue in Shinto ethics.
Classical Shinto texts
Written about in
- What Shinto says about reverence
Makoto is sincerity, meaning inner feeling and outward act lining up. The tradition consistently rates it above elaborate offering.