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

Developed by ShinranDeveloped by Shinran

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

Sitting in zazenSitting in zazen

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