Upon being instilled with a sense that these were anger (curse) of 'something' awe-inspiring, people in ancient Japan began to venerate of natural entities and phenomona, seeking to placate the anger when they thought that the awe inspiring entity or phenomenon was angry (and would impart misfortune), or to seek blessings.
古代人はこれを神々しい「何か」の怒り（祟り）と考え、怒りを鎮め、恵みを与えてくれるよう願い、それを崇敬するようになった。