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Japanese Religion
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Japanese ReligionJapanese Religion
Nature, Spirits and Man—Nature, Spirits and Man—Shinto and BuddhismShinto and Buddhism
What religions to people claim to follow?
What is Shinto?What is Shinto?
Native religion of JapanNative religion of Japan Kami or spirits reside in nature and in Kami or spirits reside in nature and in
peoplepeople Nature is sacredNature is sacred Purity is good and pollution is badPurity is good and pollution is bad Morality is based upon that which benefits Morality is based upon that which benefits
the groupthe group Right practice and attitude, not beliefRight practice and attitude, not belief
University for training Shinto Priests University for training Shinto Priests
Classroom at Kogakkan UniversityClassroom at Kogakkan University
Shinto Shrine: used for ceremonies Shinto Shrine: used for ceremonies and individual worshipand individual worship
Each shrine has Each shrine has certain component certain component partsparts
Torii Gates mark the entrance to a Torii Gates mark the entrance to a Shinto shrineShinto shrine
Komainu (Guardian dogs) at the Komainu (Guardian dogs) at the entrance to the shrineentrance to the shrine
At Inari shrines, the At Inari shrines, the guardians are foxesguardians are foxes
Purification trough at entrancePurification trough at entrance
Main or Offering Hall: sometimes Main or Offering Hall: sometimes two halls, sometimes togethertwo halls, sometimes together
The Main Hall The Main Hall (Honden) houses the (Honden) houses the shrines treasuresshrines treasures
The Offering Hall The Offering Hall (Haiden) is where (Haiden) is where devotees praydevotees pray
Stage for dance or theatrical Stage for dance or theatrical performancesperformances
Ema: wooden plates for writing Ema: wooden plates for writing requests of the spiritsrequests of the spirits
Most people wish for Most people wish for health, wealth, health, wealth, happiness, children, happiness, children, passing exams, love, passing exams, love, or success in or success in businessbusiness
Omikuji: fortune telling stripsOmikuji: fortune telling strips These slips, drawn at These slips, drawn at
random, are tied random, are tied around tree branches: around tree branches: this makes good this makes good fortune happen and fortune happen and averts bad fortuneaverts bad fortune
Shimenawa: a straw rope with Shimenawa: a straw rope with white paper strips (Gohei)white paper strips (Gohei)
Marks the boundary Marks the boundary to a sacred placeto a sacred place
The highest ranked The highest ranked sumo wrestlers wear sumo wrestlers wear a form of these during a form of these during ritual ceremoniesritual ceremonies
Floats (Mikoshi) for festival paradesFloats (Mikoshi) for festival parades
Fushimi Inari Shrine: hiking trails Fushimi Inari Shrine: hiking trails covered with Torii gatescovered with Torii gates
State Shinto Shrines: IseState Shinto Shrines: Ise
Izumo: Japans oldest shrine and Izumo: Japans oldest shrine and the annual gathering place of 8 the annual gathering place of 8
million kamimillion kami Dedicated to Dedicated to
Okuninushi no Okuninushi no Mikoto, nephew of the Mikoto, nephew of the sun goddess and the sun goddess and the patron of marriagepatron of marriage
Shrine to Tokugawa Ieyasu in Shrine to Tokugawa Ieyasu in ToshugoToshugo
Shrine to Emperor Meiji, symbol of Shrine to Emperor Meiji, symbol of modern Japanmodern Japan
Hachiman shrine: Hachiman is the Hachiman shrine: Hachiman is the spirit of warspirit of war
Yakusumi Shrine: commemorating Yakusumi Shrine: commemorating Japan’s war deadJapan’s war dead
Shinto Wedding processionShinto Wedding procession
Shinto Wedding CeremonyShinto Wedding Ceremony
Buddhism In JapanBuddhism In Japan
TendaiTendai ShingonShingon NichirenNichiren Pure LandPure Land ZenZen
TendaiTendai Founded by SaichoFounded by Saicho Brought back Brought back
teachings from Chinateachings from China Established Established
monastery on Mt. Hieimonastery on Mt. Hiei Lotus Sutra central Lotus Sutra central
texttext All persons can All persons can
achieve achieve enlightenmentenlightenment
Mt. Hiei remained the center of Mt. Hiei remained the center of Buddhism until it burned in the 16Buddhism until it burned in the 16thth
centurycentury
Shingon or Esoteric BuddhismShingon or Esoteric Buddhism
Founded by Kukai (Kobo Daishi)Founded by Kukai (Kobo Daishi)
Shingon: True wordsShingon: True words
Kukai studied under Hui Ko in China and Kukai studied under Hui Ko in China and became his disciplebecame his disciple
Enlightenment can be achieved by all but Enlightenment can be achieved by all but only with the help of a masteronly with the help of a master
The body , speech , and mind must work The body , speech , and mind must work togethertogether
Founded monastery on Mt. Koya (rival to Founded monastery on Mt. Koya (rival to Mt. Hiei)Mt. Hiei)
Focus on Womb and Diamond Focus on Womb and Diamond MandalasMandalas
Nichiren Buddhism: a Japanese Nichiren Buddhism: a Japanese originaloriginal
Founded by Nichiren Founded by Nichiren Nichi:JapanNichi:Japan Ren:LotusRen:Lotus
Focus on the Lotus Sutra and Focus on the Lotus Sutra and Mantras (chanting)Mantras (chanting)
Namu Myoho Namu Myoho RengekyoRengekyo
Pure Land (Jodo) BuddhismPure Land (Jodo) Buddhism founded by Honenfounded by Honen Emphasis on difficulty Emphasis on difficulty
of individual effortof individual effort Reliance on Amida Reliance on Amida
BuddhaBuddha Goal: rebirth in Goal: rebirth in
Western paradiseWestern paradise Means: recitation of Means: recitation of
MantraMantra
Home altarHome altar
Recitation of the NembutsuRecitation of the Nembutsu Namu Amida BuddhaNamu Amida Buddha
Kannon: the Buddhisattva of Kannon: the Buddhisattva of compassion: Amida’s assistantcompassion: Amida’s assistant
Zen BuddhismZen Buddhism
Brought from China by Dogen and othersBrought from China by Dogen and others Focus on meditation and enlightenmentFocus on meditation and enlightenment
What is a Koan?What is a Koan?
Aid to meditationAid to meditation Question or puzzle that can’t solve with Question or puzzle that can’t solve with
reasonreason Out of frustration comes another kind of Out of frustration comes another kind of
awarenessawareness Only used by some sects of ZenOnly used by some sects of Zen
Buddhism: a monopoly of deathBuddhism: a monopoly of death
Jizo (Lord of the underworld and rebirth) Jizo (Lord of the underworld and rebirth) statuesstatues
Typical grave: first cremated then Typical grave: first cremated then buriedburied
New ReligionsNew Religions
Many sects arising from Shinto and Many sects arising from Shinto and Buddhism beginning in the 19Buddhism beginning in the 19thth century. century.
All have charismatic founder who All have charismatic founder who underwent great traumaunderwent great trauma
Believe a deity speaks directly to the Believe a deity speaks directly to the founderfounder
Believe in universal messageBelieve in universal message
TenrikyoTenrikyo
““Lead the joyous life”Lead the joyous life”
Founded by Miki NakayamaFounded by Miki Nakayama God the parent wants people to by joyfulGod the parent wants people to by joyful Joy is lost by self centered thoughtsJoy is lost by self centered thoughts Correct by service to others and worship Correct by service to others and worship
of God the parentof God the parent
