Japanese Temples & ShrinesBy Jacques Averso

Japanese Temples (お寺＝Otera)

“The Golden Pavilion, Kinkaku-ji” in Kyoto

Japanese Temples

• In Japanese, it’s usually [(Name) + (“-Ji”, or “-In”)]

– ～寺

– ～院 (small temples, usually)

• The temple grounds are open to the public to explore and pray, but the temple building itself is off limits.

“Higashi Hongan-ji”, one of the most popular temples in Kyoto

Parts of a Temple• The Main Temple Gate

– When entering the temple grounds, this is the first part that you’ll see

– Also known as the 中門＝Chuumon

– Made of wood and has a big roof

– Very simple structures; very plain

– Big, popular temples may make you pay an entrance fee here (sometimes around $10 USD)

– In the old days, it was fortified because warrior monks lived here

The main gate for “E-shin” Temple of Kyoto

“Yakuuo” Temple gate in Tokyo

“Daian-ji” Temple Gate in Nara

“Todai-ji” Gate in Nara

Parts of a Temple

• The main temple building houses many important shrine items such as…

– A statue of the great Buddha

– Representations of the 4 Elements,

– Some paintings of Buddha’s life

– An offering box

• 仏堂＝Butsudou＝”Buddha’s Hall”, the main temple building– Picture on next slide

“Houryu-ji” in Ikaruga, World’s Oldest Wooden Temple (607AD)

Parts of a Temple

Parts of a Temple• The Temple Pagoda

– An evolution from the Indian Stupa

– 3 or more stories, usually.

– Each story represents different element…

• Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and the Void

– Each story may contain more Buddhist relics

“Stupa #3” in Sanchi, India (made in 150 BC)

“Yakushi” Temple in Nara(Made in 698 AD)

Parts of a Temple• The Temple Belfry/Bell Tower

– Known as the 鐘楼＝Shourou

– Usually rung at the many religious ceremonies

– At year-end, rung 108 times; one for every earthly desire we humans have

Bell Tower at “Todai-ji” in Nara

Parts of a Temple• The Rock Gardens

– Only seen in temples that practice the sect of Zen Buddhism

– Known as 枯山水＝Karesansui

– Meant for invoking peace and calmness; good for meditating on Koan Stories• Koan Stores are fables or dialogues which provoke great

thought into Zen ideas

– The space between the rocks that makes it so special; we see the void - the state of origination

– Usually rocks are raked so they look like water rippling.

– Supposed to give a look of natural, harmonious perfection.

Parts of a Temple• Incense Area

– Known as 線香＝Senkou

– Sometimes they have their own mini-temple, sometimes just an open sand pit

– You light incense, let the stick sit in the sand, then waft the smoke towards your body with your hand in order to purify you

Parts of a Temple• Graveyard (墓場)(Hakaba)

– When you die, a Buddhist monk does the funeral ceremony, your body is then incinerated, and the ashes are buried at the family gravesite.

– Offerings are made on the gravesite such as flowers and favorite foods of the deceased.

Japanese Shrines(神社＝Jinja)

The Shrine Torii gate of “Miyajima” in Hatsukaichi

Parts of a Shrine• Shinto Shrines are very similar to Buddhist Temples.

• However, Shinto Shrines are more ornamental and colorful than Buddhist Temples.

• Many times, a Shrine will also contain the same things that a Temple does, and vice-versa. – The two religions are very similar to each other.

“Itsukushima”, Shinto Shrine “Rakan” Temple in Nakatsu

Parts of a Shrine• The Torii Gate

– Unlike a Buddhist Temple, a Shinto Shrine’s Gate is very colorful

– Made of wood and usually painted red or orange, with some bits of black or green.

– You walk through it as you’re entering the shrine. It sections off the ordinary world from the sacred

– Influenced by the Indian Torana, Chinese Pailou, and the Korean Hongsalmun

– Even in Japan, there’s many, many different types and families of Torii gates.

Indian “Torana”Chinese “Pailou”

Korean “Hongsalmun”

Japanese Torii

Parts of a Shrine• Ema

– 絵馬＝Ema = Wooden Votive Fortune Tablets• Votive = Symbolizes a wish

– You buy them, write your wish down and/or draw pictures on it, and then you hang it on the racks near the Main Hall or near a sacred tree. The Kami will read and grant your wish.

– Some Ema even have images of animals or lucky symbols (like the Beckoning Cat),

– Common wishes are: passing an exam, successful childbirth, better health, and financial improvement

Parts of a Shrine

Parts of a Shrine• Fortune Papers

– In Japanese, known as Omikuji (御神籤)

– At Shinto Shrines, you can buy small envelopes that contain a strip of paper with your fortune written on it.

• If you get a good/lucky fortune, then attach it to a nearby sacred tree branch or string to make sure it comes true.

• If you get a bad, unlucky fortune, then attach it to a nearby sacred tree branch or to a string to make sure that it won’t come true

Parts of a Shrine

Parts of a Shrine• Other Important Things at a Shrine…

– Foxes / Kitsune• The Foxes (known as 狐＝Kitsune) appear frequently in Japanese folklore and

can be found in Japanese pop culture and art.

• They’re messengers of Inari, the God of Fertility.

• In folklore, more tails = More powerful (Up to 9 tails)

• Many, many shrines are devoted to the Fox.

– Lion-Dogs / Komainu• Lion-Dog creatures that guard the inner parts of the Shrine

• Tradition and idea was originally imported from Tang Dynasty China (7th Century AD) with the Chinese “ShiShi” (石獅) or “Stone Lion”.

• Can also be found frequently around Japanese Buddhist Temples and in front of many Chinese restaurants

• Other stone animal guardians that protect the inner Shinto Shrine include boars, dragons, foxes, and tigers.

– Sacred Ropes• Also known as Shimenawa (注連縄), it’s a thick, rice straw rope used to section

off areas of the shrine, ward away evil sprits, and attract and house good spirits to certain sacred things in nature (usually trees or rocks)

• Hanging off of the rope are Shide (四手). These are zigzag-shaped paper streamers which purify and bless the object that the rope is going around.

Parts of a Shrine

Lion-Dogs

Sacred Rope

The Differences• Overall, Shrines and Temples usually are quite similar

and it can be tough to tell the differences because many have the same things.

• Generally, you can assume that…– If there’s a Torii gate, it’s a Shrine

– If there’s a sacred rope everywhere, it’s most likely Shrine

– If there’s a graveyard, it’s most likely a Temple• You’re blessed at a Shrine when you’re a child and your funeral and burial is

done at a Temple.

– If there’s lots of stone or wood walls, it’s likely a Temple• Shrines try to get in touch with nature and are more open. Temples are usually

closed off, partially because in the old days, Buddhist Warrior Monks fortified and trained there.

– If you go onto Google Maps and see a swastika, it’s a Temple• If you see a Torii Gate symbol, it’s a Shrine.

• Swastika in Buddhism symbolizes Eternity

– If it has a Rock Garden, it’s a Temple

“Inari appearing in front of warrior”Inari is the god of fertility in Shinto

“Jizo”, the Buddhist guardian of children

The Differences

• In one neighborhood in Tokushima, you can see 3 Shrines (square) and 1 Temple (circle)

How to Pray at a Temple or Shrine

1. Purify yourself at the Purification Fountain (Temizuya)1. Use the ladle to pour water onto your right hand and then your

left hand. Let the water fall onto the ground, not back into the basin

2. Cup your hand and then pour water from the ladle into your hand

1. DO NOT DRINK FROM THE LADLE

3. Spit water out discreetly onto the ground1. Or you can swallow it

4. Hold the ladle vertically and let the water purify the ladle handle that you just touched.

1. Put it back down and use the towel (if available) to dry your hands

5. Bow once

2. Purchase some incense (Temples only)1. Once you have your incense, light it, and then put the stick into

the sand pit.

2. Waft the smoke onto your body – especially onto anything that is injured (because it can heal you)

3. Bow deeply

How to Pray at a Temple or Shrine

3. Make an offering…3. Go up to the main hall (but don’t go inside it)

4. Throw in some offering coins

5. Ring the bell (Shrines, usually)

6. Bow deeply once (although some say 2x)

7. Afterwards, then clap 2x (Shrines only)

8. Pray quietly with your hands clasped together

9. Bow deeply one last time

Temples & Shrine Video

• http://youtu.be/chyyQ62R728– “Old Buddhist Temple” – JapanChannelDCom

• >= 2:40

• http://youtu.be/jQ9MH9gSwxc– First Visit to Shrine2012 ★ HATSU-MOUDE【初詣】 - AidaRuna

• <3 min

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Alternatives….

• http://youtu.be/0tyH59loTvQ

• http://youtu.be/t6uEaEKyk5Q

Sources

• http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090116094329AATLXIE

• http://www.japanese-buddhism.com/temple-etiquette.html

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6uEaEKyk5Q&feature=youtu.be

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chyyQ62R728

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Qmnh7ckZ2A&list=SPC6E2387BDD531215&index=7

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tyH59loTvQ

• http://www.meriyatrra.com/travel-places/stupa-3.html

• http://www.japanese-buddhism.com/temple-layout.html#pagoda

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhist_temples_in_Japan

• http://matome.naver.jp/odai/2133367941623811801/2133368205823959103

• http://www.sacred-destinations.com/japan/nara-yakushiji.htm

• http://everything-everywhere.com/2009/05/23/daily-travel-photo-nara-japan-5-x/

• http://muza-chan.net/japan/index.php/blog/takaosan-yakuoin-yukiji-gate

• http://www.taleofgenji.org/eshinin.html

• http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080716085535AAAAWkN

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_gardens#Rock_garden

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koan

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinto_shrine

• http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2057.html

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika#East_Asia

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=jQ9MH9gSwxc

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komainu

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_map_symbols