Japanese Religion

Nature, Spirits and Man

Shinto and Buddhism

What religions to people claim to

follow?

What is Shinto?
Native religion of Japan
Kami or spirits reside in nature and in

people
Nature is sacred
Purity is good and pollution is bad
Morality is based upon that which benefits
the group
Right practice and attitude, not belief

University for training Shinto Priests

Classroom

at Kogakkan University

Shinto Shrine: used for ceremonies

and individual worship

Each shrine has

certain component
parts

Torii Gates mark the entrance to a

Shinto shrine

Komainu (Guardian dogs) at the

entrance to the shrine

At Inari shrines, the

guardians are foxes

Purification trough at entrance

Main or Offering Hall: sometimes

two halls, sometimes together

The Main Hall

(Honden) houses the
shrines treasures
The Offering Hall
(Haiden) is where
devotees pray

Stage for dance or theatrical

performances

Ema: wooden plates for writing

requests of the spirits

Most people wish for

health, wealth,
happiness, children,
passing exams, love,
or success in
business

Omikuji: fortune telling strips

These slips, drawn at

random, are tied
around tree branches:
this makes good
fortune happen and
averts bad fortune

Shimenawa: a straw rope with

white paper strips (Gohei)

Marks the boundary

to a sacred place
The highest ranked
sumo wrestlers wear
a form of these during
ritual ceremonies

Floats (Mikoshi) for festival parades

Fushimi Inari Shrine: hiking trails

covered with Torii gates

State Shinto Shrines: Ise

Izumo: Japans oldest shrine and

the annual gathering place of 8
million kami

Dedicated to
Okuninushi no
Mikoto, nephew of the
sun goddess and the
patron of marriage

Shrine to Tokugawa Ieyasu in

Toshugo

Shrine to Emperor Meiji, symbol of

modern Japan

Hachiman shrine: Hachiman is the

spirit of war

Yakusumi Shrine: commemorating

Japans war dead

Shinto Wedding procession

Shinto Wedding Ceremony

Buddhism In Japan
Tendai
Shingon
Nichiren
Pure Land
Zen

Tendai

Founded by Saicho
Brought back
teachings from China
Established
monastery on Mt. Hiei
Lotus Sutra central
text
All persons can
achieve
enlightenment

Mt. Hiei remained the center of

Buddhism until it burned in the 16th
century

Shingon or Esoteric Buddhism

Founded by Kukai (Kobo Daishi)

Shingon: True words

Kukai studied under Hui Ko in China and

became his disciple

Enlightenment can be achieved by all but
only with the help of a master
The body , speech , and mind must work
together
Founded monastery on Mt. Koya (rival to
Mt. Hiei)

Focus on Womb and Diamond

Mandalas

Nichiren Buddhism: a Japanese

original
Founded by Nichiren

Nichi:Japan
Ren:Lotus

Focus on the Lotus Sutra and

Mantras (chanting)

Namu Myoho
Rengekyo

Pure Land (Jodo) Buddhism

founded by Honen
Emphasis on difficulty
of individual effort
Reliance on Amida
Buddha
Goal: rebirth in
Western paradise
Means: recitation of
Mantra

Developed by Shinran

Home altar

Recitation of the Nembutsu

Namu Amida Buddha

Kannon: the Buddhisattva of

compassion: Amidas assistant

Zen Buddhism
Brought from

China by Dogen and others

Focus on meditation and enlightenment

Sitting in zazen

What is a Koan?
Aid to meditation
Question or puzzle that cant solve with

reason
Out of frustration comes another kind of
awareness
Only used by some sects of Zen

Buddhism: a monopoly of death

Jizo (Lord of the underworld and rebirth)

statues

Typical grave: first cremated then

buried

New Religions
Many sects arising from Shinto and

Buddhism beginning in the 19th century.

All have charismatic founder who
underwent great trauma
Believe a deity speaks directly to the
founder
Believe in universal message

Tenrikyo

Lead the joyous life

Founded by Miki Nakayama
God the parent wants people to by joyful
Joy is lost by self centered thoughts
Correct by service to others and worship

of God the parent