Religion
Shinto
Shinto (the way of the gods) is the indigenous faith of the Japanese people, and it is as old as the Japanese as well.
Shinto does not have a founder nor does it have sacred scriptures like the sutras or the bible. Propaganda and preaching is not common either because Shinto is very deeply rooted in the Japanese people and its traditions.
The kami are the objects of worship in Shinto. They are sacred spirits and can take various forms such as natural elements like the sun, mountains, trees, rocks, and the wind, or abstract things like fertility, but also ancestors, national heroes and protectors of family clans.
A sacred tree with the sacred rope (shimenawa) around the tree trunk.
In contrast to Western religions there are no absolutes in Shinto, even though there is a most important godess, the Sun goddess Amaterasu Omikami whose shrine is at Ise. Shinto is a very optimistic faith. It is thought that all humans are fundamentally good, and that all evil is caused by evil spirits. The purpose of most of the rituals is to avoid evil spirits by purification, offerings and prayers.
A written code of ethics and morals does not really exist in Shinto; but the Confucian ethics had melted together with Shinto over the centuries, especially during the Edo period.
Nowadays, the people seek support from Shinto and visit shrines in order to pray for good fortune and to avoid evil spirits especially before special events such as the opening of a business, school entrance exams, etc. Several kinds of talismans can be acquired at many shrines against a little offering, (i.e. they can be bought with money). A majority of wedding ceremonies are held in Shinto style. Death, however, is considered evil in Shinto, and most tasks concerning it, especially funerals are done according to Buddhist rituals.
Shinto prayers at shrines or at home follow more or less the following pattern (there exist several variations): First of all you should purify yourself, by cleaning your hands and your mouth with clean water. Then you give your offerings (e.g. coins at a shrine or food at the home shrine), bow twice deeply, clap your hands twice, bow deeply once more and pray.
Shinto priests are performing the rituals. They are private persons who can marry and have children. There are even a few female priests. The priests are usually supported by young ladies (miko) in white kimono. They help the priest at rituals and in other tasks in the shrine. They must be unmarried and are often the priest's daughters.
Shinto shrines are the places of worship and the homes of the kami. Most shrines celebrate festivals (matsuri) regularly in order to show the kami the world outside the shrine. There are special information pages about shrines and festivals.
When Buddhism was introduced to Japan in the 6th century, a few conflicts occurred between the two religions. But soon they were able to co-exist harmonically and even complemented each other. Many Buddhists argued that the kami are manifestations of buddhas. Before the Meiji restoration, Shinto shrines were organized by the communities, while, on the other hand, the emperor performed the imperial Shinto rituals at the court - an important governmental task.
After the Meiji restoration, the Meiji rulers made Shinto their state religion and used Japan's creation myths that showed a direct link between the Sun godess and the emperor family to foster national feelings and to justify the emperor's absolute position. Shinto priests became state officials and the important shrines were funded by the government. There were also efforts to separate and emancipate Shinto from Buddhism completely.
After WW2, Shinto was completely separated from the state and was classified as a normal religion. Today, most of the shrines belong to the Association of Shinto Shrines.
Important features of Shinto art are the architecture of the shrines and the cultivation and preservation of ancient art forms such as Noh theatre, calligraphy and court music (gagaku), an ancient dance music that originated at the courts of Tang China (618 - 907).
Credit: Japan-Guide.com
Buddhism
Buddhism originated in India in the 6th century BC. It consists of the teachings of the Buddha, Gautama Siddhartha.
Its central theories are that human life is full of suffering due to worldly desires, illness, death and the loss of loved ones. By getting rid of desires and attachments, one can achieve the state of enlightenment (Nirvana) and escape suffering and the circle of reincarnations.
Buddhism was imported to Japan in 538 or 552 in form of a present from the king of the friendly Korean kingdom of Kudara (or Paikche). The new religion was welcomed by the ruling nobles while the common people did not understand its complex theories. After a few conflicts with the native religion Shinto, the two religions soon were able to co-exist harmonically and even complemented each other.
During the Nara period, the great Buddhist monasteries in Nara, for example the Todaiji, gained strong political influence which was one of the reasons for the government to move the capital first to Nagaoka (784) and then to Kyoto (794). Nevertheless, the problem of politically ambitious and even militant monasteries remained a main issue for the governments during many centuries of Japanese history.
During the Heian period, two new Buddhist sects were founded, i.e. imported from China: the Tendai sect in 805 and the Shingon sect in 806. They were gradually "Japanized" and later developed further branches. Some of the most important ones are mentioned below:
In 1175, the Jodo sect (PureLand sect) was founded by Honen. It found followers among all different social classes since its theories were very simple and based on the principle that everybody can achieve salvation by strongly believing in the Buddha Amida. In 1224, the Shinshu sect (TruePureLand sect) was founded by Honen's successor Shinran.
In 1191, the Zen sect was introduced from China. Its complicated theories were popular particularly among the members of the military class. In Zen, one can achieve self-enlightenment through meditation and self discipline.
The Lotus Hokke sect, was founded by Nichiren in 1253. The sect was exceptional due to its intolerant attitude towards the other Buddhist sects. Nichiren Buddhism still has many millions of followers today. Many "new religions" are based on Nichiren's teachings.
Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi fought the militant Buddhist monasteries (especially the PureLand sect) thoroughly in the end of the 16th century and practically extinguished Buddhist a Buddhist institutions were once more attacked in the early years of the Meiji period, when the new leaders favored Shinto as the new state religion and tried to separate and emancipate it from Buddhism.
Buddhist institutions were once more attacked in the early years of the Meiji period, when the new leaders favored Shinto as the new state religion and tried to separate and emancipate it from Buddhism.
Nowadays abo 90 million people consider themselves Buddhists in Japan. However, the religion does not directly affect the everyday life of the average Japanese very much. Funerals are usually carried out in a Buddhist way. Many households also keep a small house altar in order to remember their ancestors.
Credit: Japan-Guide.com
