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Japanese culture and religion
Shinto religion in japanese society today
Merits and demerits of shintoism religion
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This rebellion was especially important because it was the one of the first times that the people broke out after the recent unification of Japan by Hideyoshi. Many Japanese Christians had been silenced, but then collectively “resurrected”. (27) Before the unification, Japan was in a time of Warring- States and turmoil was normal. However, the rebellion proved the power of the
During World War II the Japanese had a very strong opinion about themselves. The Japanese were the absolute power holders, they decide everything. The thoughts of the Japanese being the creators, rulers of the universe, the source of all moral authority, and the supreme beings filled their minds. In the non-fiction book Flyboys written by James Bradley highlights the idea of the Japanese being the gods of the universe. During the World War II Christianity and the Japanese were compared.
Japan had started with early nomads occupying the area, and had a unique system in which the emperor didn’t serve as the all powerful, which led t extended well-being of the government system. Emperors served as a face for power, but in medieval Japan, the growth of the idea of decentralizing had become prominent. The military system had also been different as opposed to other areas, where a samurai had protected the families of lords and
Japan’s rich history of power, wealth, and influence had many remarkable eras. One of the more notable periods in Japanese history was that of the Tokugawa Period (1600-1868). The Tokugawa Period was talked about in Musui’s Story, an autobiographical book, written by Kokichi Katsu. (Katsu ix) Katsu wrote Musui’s Story for three main reasons: to share how he had transformed from a low-ranking samurai to a well-known hero, to show his sense of self, and to serve as a cautionary tale for his descendants.
Morgan Pitelka’s article “The Empire of Things: Tokugawa Ieyasu's Material Legacy and Cultural Profile” is a piece which allows the reader to engage in an intellectually stimulating discussion about the material legacy of Tokugawa Ieyasu. This particular article paints Ieyasu in a positive light due to the fact that the cultural profile created is done so mainly through the use of a single source. Pitelka’s article discusses the life and legacy of Tokugawa Ieyasu. The article itself paints Ieyasu in a positive light due to the nature of the source used to create a cultural profile of the shogun.
Regla de Ocha, or Santeria, is an Afro-Cuban religion that was born from the context of colonialism and oppression through the memories and experiences of Yoruba slaves in Cuba. It is a combination of beliefs and practices from their homeland in Nigeria, of Roman Catholicism that was imposed on them from the Spanish colonists and of French spiritism from the work of Allan Kardec. In the last couple decades, Santeria has spread and gained popularity throughout South America and North America as an Afro-Cuban religion that many Cubans and African Americans abroad have embraced. Throughout the years, Santeria has also changed and has been redefined in different contexts as it has made its way across the African Diaspora and into different types
Shintoism has a deep impact in the daily life of Japan. Shinto is a complex and compact religion that has devout and very spiritual followers. There are over 3 million followers of Shintoism, all mostly living in Japan (B.A. Robinson 2013, Shinto, an ancient Japanese religion). The art of Shintoism focuses on the natural beauties of the world, for example flowers and mountains are usually involved in most Shinto art. The architecture of Shinto is most recognized through the shrines.
Tokugawa rule brought unity and stability, but it did not prevent change. In the 1600s and 1700s, each of Japan’s main class-samurai, peasantry, and urban dwellers was gradually transformed. The samurai by custom were loyal, and proud, but two centuries of peace slowly dulled their fighting edge. As cities grew larger, Japan’s urban culture became increasingly sophisticated.
In a way, Shinto is the indigenous religion of Japan, but in another way it is not. Even though it is a little confusing as to when Shinto became a unified religion rather than just a convenient label to give to the different faiths found in Japan. Those who are from Japan and live there don’t necessarily think of Shinto as a religion as much as something just ingrained in their culture. These religions were highly localized, and not organized into a single faith. Nor were they seen as a single religion; the realms of Earth and the supernatural were so closely integrated in the world-view of the early Japanese that the things that modern people regard as a faith were seen in those times as just another part of their everyday life.
In the Shinto Religion, Kami is not defined or established as a god. In Shintoism there is no absolute god that is the creator of all humans and nature. Everything was of spiritual existence including materials and inanimate objects. Kami was defined as an awe inspiring, life giving power that can bring people luck or misfortune. We can categorize the type of kami’s into four distinct yet overlapping types that include: natural forces, clan deities (may be natural forces or another type), hero deities, and place deities - mountains, waterfalls, impressive rocks or trees, etc.
Religion in Western civilization has undoubtedly played a pivotal role in shaping and developing Western society. Regardless of the form of religion, such as polytheism or monotheism, people in ancient societies believed in a God or Gods. This belief in a higher power was an important part of human progression and expansion. Religion was the backbone of Western civilization and has always been a very important foundation of culture, schooling, philosophy, art, and social interaction. Before Judaism and Christianity, philosophers such as Aristotle ponder the thought of a higher power and in his book Metaphysics wrote about eternal motion was an unmoved mover.
“To guard against external influence, they also worked to close off Japanese society from Westernizing influences, particularly Christianity. When the Tokugawa shogunate grew increasingly weak by the mid-19th century, two powerful clans joined forces in early 1868 to seize power as part of an “imperial restoration” named for Emperor Meiji.” This restoration was the beginning of the end of feudalism, or the way of structuring society around relationships derived from the holding of land in exchange for service or labour, in Japan. The Tokugawa regime acted to exclude missionaries because of suspicion of foreign intervention and colonialism. Eventually, they issued a complete ban on Christianity in Japan.
1. Psychology of Religion Sigmund Freud Sigmund Freud 's understanding of the psychology of religion comes from a place not without disdain. This might be somewhat understandable given he lived not too long removed from a time in which any statements that were deemed to be blasphemous could lead to very serious consequences for the author. He touches on this very point and even lists arguments against his coming out so vociferously against even the potential veracity of religion; however, he quickly attempts to demolish these arguments so as to make his real point (Freud, 2018, pp. 179,188). Put quite concisely, Freud explains that the idea of God is nothing short of an illusion – even a form of neurosis.
Interwoven Religions The interwoveness of the Daoism, Confucianism, and Shinto religions reveals itself
Currently, Japan is often known for having a very distinct culture, cultivated due to their relative isolation as an Island country. Indeed, many people reference the Tokugawa Edicts as the reason for this perception. However, while Japanese civilization is certainly a highly distinctive society, it also has strong ties to Chinese culture that began long before the Tokugawa era. In fact, as early as the first century A.D., the people of Japan were sending missions to China; they established a trade and tribute based relationship. This initial relationship gave way to the later Chinese influence that would shape Japan.
