Religions in Japan - Coursework Example

Name Tutor Course Date Introduction Most Japanese individuals do not completely identify themselves as adherents of a sole religion. They integrate elements of numerous religions in syncretism style, called Shinbutsu shūgō. Japan offers full religious freedom, permitting minority religions like Hinduism, Christianity, Sikhism and Islam to be practiced. Bowring argues that today, several religions are practiced in Japan, but majority of Japanese people follow a meld of Buddhism and Shintoism. Even though religion doesn’t play a key role in the daily life of an average Japanese individual, they have rituals and customs that are observed on unique occasions such as weddings, birthdays, religious holidays and funerals (103). Differences between Buddhism and Shintoism Buddhism and Shinto are the two main religions in Japan and have been coexisting for numerous centuries. They have complemented one another to a certain level. Majority of Japanese consider themselves Shintoist, Buddhist or both. Shinto is the innate spiritual cult of Japan widely followed by Japanese people. Shinto, which literally means the way of God’s way, was initially adopted from ancient Chinese inscriptions. On the contrary, Buddhism is a tradition envisioned as the eventual path of salvation which is to be accomplished via a looming approach into the supreme nature of existence and reality (Stuart 97). Shinto fundamentally incorporates the numerous religious practices subsequent of the different local and regional ancient practices that were practiced in prehistoric Japan while Buddhism takes in its purview several diverse religious practices, spiritual beliefs and traditions which are mainly based on teachings of Siddhartha Gautama Buddha. Shinto is a special religion where ritual actions, rites and practices are a lot more important than the preaching or word. On the contrary, Buddhism is a religious conviction that doesn’t identify numerous religious rites or practices. But mainly focuses upon the study and relation of the philosophies and words of Buddha and paths of subsistence as showed by Buddha. Shinto represents the worship of the conceptual powers of nature, polytheism, animism and the ancestors. The central focus stays on rite of purity which rotates around the celebration and honouring of the subsistence of Kami which is the eventual spirit of quintessence. In a differing manner, Buddhism foundation lies on undertaking of altruism and following paths of moral conduct. Some of the universal practices of Buddhism are the cultivation of wisdom via renunciation and mediation, studying the scriptures and invocating the bodhisattvas. Buddhism has two major branches called Theravada and Mahayana (Scott 43). Mahayana includes the customs of Nicheren Buddhism, Shingon, Pure Land, Shinnyo-en, Tendai, and Tibetan Buddhism while Theravada centres upon the ideas from the original subsisting School of Elders. On the contrary, Shinto does not have branches and subsists as one sole religion of prehistoric Japanese religion. Individuals go to Shinto shrines to pay respect to Kami or pray for good fortune and people also visit Shinto shrines during unique events like setsubun, shichigosan and New Year. Buddhist temples are used to fulfil the needs that deal with death or completion of life. According to Jean, Buddhist temples are also used for funerals and answering queries about after life, for dealing with agony that is accompanied by death (67). Another disparity between Shinto and Buddhist practices is that Buddhist shrines contains icons, statutes or idols while Shinto shrines do not contain these objects are used as dwellings of Kami and places of worship and holy objects of worship that demonstrate kami are kept in the inner most chamber of shrine where they can’t be seen by any person (Scott 152). Shinto principles usually do not permit materialization of beliefs. However, outside the shrine, people may make offerings such as rice and sake to honours kamis and nourish their priests. Shinto practices have often ruled out human figures, because kamis are deemed to be in every part of nature, entailing trees, rocks and other natural constituents. Nevertheless, if there is a figure inside or connected with Shinto shrines, it is because of the influence of Buddhism (Jean 88-9). History of Buddhism Shinto is the indigenous Japanese religious conviction of Japan since 500 B.C.E while Buddhism was introduced in Japan in 600 A.D. and has coexisted for centuries, with individuals worshipping both religions simultaneously. In the early twentieth century, during the initiation of Meiji period, Japanese government officially detached Buddhism from Shinto and developed State Shinto in an effort to stave off influences of Western culture and set up itself as an autonomously powerful empire. Buddhism is regarded to have been formally introduced to Japan in 538 A.D . by the Chinese and Korean leaders, which was, presented a brilliant Buddha image together with scripture scrolls and ornaments to Japanese emperor Kimmei (Stuart 97). In this period, Kimmei governed Japan along with his court nobles and immediately disagreements began over whether this foreign cult must be accepted. The orthodox nakatomo and Mononobe clans highly rejected this novel religion on the basis that Japan already had its indigenous and traditional religion of Shinto. However, the prominent soga clan favoured Buddhism and deemed that it had a lot to give for their cultural enrichment. Therefore in the end, in spite of the arguments that occurred amid the court nobles, the Japanese emperor deferred the issue to Soga clan. About forty years later, Prince Regent Shotoku (A.D. 574–621) was elected the regent to Empress Suiko, at which period he affirmed Buddhism as the formal religion in China (Powers 55-7). After its arrival from Korea in 538 A.D., Buddhism rapidly spread throughout japans. Several people were not willing to acknowledge Buddhism at this period because of xenophobism and nationalism. When Mononobe clan who were antagonists of Buddhism was defeated in 587A.D. the religion spread unhindered. Two centuries later, under the order of emperor Shomu, the Todai-ji temple was constructed at nara in 752 A.D. which is the biggest wooden structure in the globe housing a 15 meter high statute of Cosmic Buddha, which later came to be called Dainichi Nyorai or The Great Sun Buddha. The Dainichi Nyorai was connected with Amaterasu, the Sun Goddess of Shinto. The identification of Shinto kami with the Dainichi Nyorai resulted to the syncretism of Buddhism and Shintoism. History of Shintoism The precise origins of Shinstoism are not well known but archeological date suggests that some form of Shinstoism was being practiced by the people of Yajoi during the time between 400 B.C. and 250 A.D. The Yajoi people lived in clans known as Uji and every clan had a ruler who acted as both the spiritual leader and war chief. Every clan was connected with a god known as kami who represented natural objects and wondrous elements of the globe. During the Edo Era (1600 – 1868) nationalistic sentiments were received which resulted to resurgent of prehistoric beliefs and removal of foreign influences. During the 1868 Meiji restoration, the emperor was reinstated and the government head and Shinto was set up as the national religion. National Shinto was regarded the formal belief of the overall Japanese race and was exemplified in great number of small and large shrines throughout the nation (Powers 65). After the Second World War, the Allied occupation detached the State and Shinto, a break which was written into the novel Japanese constitution. Numerous modern Shinto ceremonies play a significant role in modern everyday lives of Japanese people. Several marriages are conducted in shrines, construction plots are purified and at times even vehicles are blessed in the Shinto shrine for safety. Conclusion There are several religions in Japan such but the most prominent religions are Buddhism and Shintoism. Shinto which is the traditional Japanese religion and Buddhism which was introduced into Japan China and Korea have cohabited for centuries, with people worshipping both religions simultaneously. However, Buddhism and Shinto have several differences and while Shinto lays significance to religious rites and actions other than preaching and words, the Buddhism foundation is the preaching and words of Buddha. Also Shinto worship forces of nature, animism and polytheism while Buddhism is concerned with following a moral code of conduct in ones renunciation and meditation. Work Cited Jean, Herbert, Shinto the Fountainhead of Japan. New York: Stein and Day, 1967. Bowring, Richard John (2005). The religious traditions of Japan, 500-1600. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. pp. 16–17 Stuart, Picken . Historical Dictionary of Shinto. Lanham, Maryland, and London: The Scarecrow Press, 2000. Scott, Littleton. Shinto: Origins, Rituals, Festivals, Spirits, Sacred Places. Oxford, NY: Oxford University Press, 2002. Powers, John "Japanese Buddhism". A Concise Encyclopedia of Buddhism. 1. Oxford: Oneworld Publications, 2000. pp. 103–107 Read More