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The role of the shinto religion in japanese society today
Simularities of shintoism and the japanese
Japanese religion and culture
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The Shintoism’s belief is more about actions of respect towards nature. Their belief in Kami, and
The Shinto appreciates nature, describing it as a force of beauty, which they celebrate and honor it, since they have built a sense of gratitude towards the natural world. Due to the deep value that the Shinto hold towards nature they believe that the divine spirit dwells in nature, since the divine spirits dwells in nature, they make sure to keep nature pure. As a result, the spirits will bring them joy and a bountiful place for life. Since the Japanese were given an abundant of blessings from nature, they have a sense of harmony or bond that unites them with nature. Not only does nature bless them with resources and food, they also view nature as the dwellings for spirits.
The Association of Shinto Shrines provides a set of principles that can define the Shinto religion best: be grateful for the blessings of the Kami and devote oneself to ritual, serve the world and its people in the service of the Kami, embrace mercy, live a prosperous life, and pray for the prosperity of Japan and the world. The practice of Shinto is to
Japanese main religion in their society today is Shinto, which was drive from “Shinato” from Chinese language means “ the way of the Kami”. Shinto is practice throughout Japanese cultural. Shinto beliefs and ritual are based on spiritual beings, kami and shrine. This type of Japanese religion has play important role on how Japanese live and do business with other nation. Japanese believed through Shinto, if the laws and rule are been obey it can bring them benefit like organization success, health and developed economy.
This mean, instead of many shrines or places of worship, Confucianism lies within things like ethics, loyalty, or obligation. Shinto, Confucianism, and Buddhism are also seen in Japanese politics. This is similar to other Asian countries like China.
Today we can still see the values of Bushido in some parts of modern Japan. The Japanese have the tons of respect and loyalty to their country and families. They would do nothing to shame or dishonor them. In World War 2 kamikaze suicide pilots look to the samurai and Bushido as inspiration. Today the two largest religions in Japan are Buddhism and Shintoism, and both influenced Bushido dramatically.
Shinto believes that humans are part of the sacred natural realm. Pollution of a person is bound to occur through contact with things that threaten one’s life. The pollution may be washed away through regular acts of purification (Shinto). One who practices Shinto has the purpose of maintaining the pure and natural state of existence. Shinto has no concept of sin, and suffering is merely a part of being human.
This is evident in the architecture or Japans buildings and preservation of ancient sacred sites. The Shinto influence can also be seen in the dress style and upholding of ancient customs. Modern day Japan is a blending of the old and the new, which is a physical manifestation of a central belief of the Shinto religion. The belief that Kami inhabit everything and that the old will watch over the
When Buddhism was first introduced in Japan, the Japanese were reluctant to accept it due to nationalism and xenophobia. However, the Japanese feudal government soon noticed the advantages of Buddhist teachings. The ruling aristocracy thought to combine Shintoism and Buddhism together would help to be more effective when guiding the people of Japan than before. With Buddhism’s complex intellectual doctrines, Shintoism became overshadowed by Buddhism as the development of Japanese theology and philosophy inevitably drew on the comparative intellectual richness of Buddhism (BBC 2009). As it was expanding, Buddhism had given the role in supporting of the growing influence of central government as the Japanese emperor derived legitimacy from Buddhism much like divine rights to European
However, Buddhism is not the indigenous religion of Japan and has often come in par with Shinto over history (Pigott 42; Kitagawa 131). In the reign of Emperor Meiji Shinto became the ideal Japanese state and action was taken in order to separate it from Buddhism (Kitagawa 131). This led to a series of events resulting in the destruction of Buddhist shrines in provinces and the persecution of its followers (haibutsu kishaku movement) (Kitagawa 131). It was not until the surrender of Japan in 1945 that state Shinto was abolished and religious tolerance followed, allowing different religions to be practiced by the masses (Kitagawa 131). Both worship of ancestors and nature are present in Shinto, however, it is the veneration of Ameterasu that unites the two (Pigott 42).
Shinto is recognized as an indigenous religion of Japanese people that comes from two words: shin (Gods) and to or do (the way). It is “an action-centered religion that demonstrates on ritual practices to be carried out diligently and to establish a connection between present-day Japan and its ancient past.” Although Helen Hardacre argues in her book Shinto and the State, 1868-1988 that Shinto is not a religion, this paper will contradict her perspective to consider Shinto as a religion in the period of 1868-1945, according to Emile Durkheim’s definition of religion. Thus, Shinto in this period qualifies as a religion because of its specific set of rituals, deities, and shrines. In addition, Hardacre states that Shinto still had a systematic
The regular jinja is a series of buildings which are usually located in the outdoors. The shrine shows the change in Japanese technology and history. Shinto’s belief system is very local orientated and its adherents care more about the local shrine then the relgion as a whole. Shintoism is currently being practiced in mostly Japan. The reason it hasn’t grown more widely is because it’s an ethnic religion as it mostly deals with its origin country, Japan.
It has become the less of a religion which has allowed Shinto to peacefully coexist with many other religions such as Buddhism and Christianity. Like what was said in the first paragraph the Shinto usually worship a local shrine or Kami associated with their area or beliefs rather than and bigger religion wide set of Kami. “many Japanese don't think that they are practicing Shinto nor are followers of the Shinto religion, even though what they do is what constitutes actual Shinto”(BBC) because it has so strongly affected their
It is a way of life for them, living within nature as one, recognizing spiritual strength in all things placed on this earth as well as the goodness of man. The Japanese especially pay homage to the sun goddess Amaterasu and the wind god Susanoo, with the belief that the priests were direct descendants of this god and goddess through the generations. In 1868 Emporer Meiji brought forth the Meiji Restoration within Japan, emphasizing worshiping the emperor, not nature or Amaterasu nor Susanoo. Prior to this Meiji Restoration, Shinto priests were religious leaders, performing special rights, rituals, and the like. Only to be replaced and banned from religious activities by state-appointed
By getting rid of Shinto as the state religion the people no longer had the treat the emperor as the most divine. Ultimately reducing the power of japan and the power of the emperor. Lastly like all religions there are a great number of adherents over one hundred million to be exact. Shinto is for the people of Japan and for it comes from their ancestors. Finding people out of Japan who follow the Shinto religion is rare.
