The word `` Shinto '' comes from the Japanese words '' ç '' , shin -- the word for god , and '' é `` '' , tÅ -- the word for `` the way '' or `` path '' . So , Shinto means `` the way of the gods . '' The word Shinto ( `` Way of the Gods '' ) was adopted from the written Chinese ( ç é `` , shÃ n dÃ o ) , combining two kanji : `` shin '' , meaning kami ; and `` tÅ '' , or `` dÅ '' meaning a philosophical path or study ( originally from the Chinese word tao ) .