ipl-logo

Shintoism: Buddhist Influence In Japan

657 Words3 Pages

Olivia Seeney
PHL222
Comparative Religions
Shinto
The origin of Shinto begins in Japan during the 6th century. It means “the way of the Kami” or “the way of the spirits”. Its name comes from the Chinese characters for Shen or “divine being” and Tao or “way” (Ketcham). Shinto emerged in response to the developing Buddhist influence in Japan. There is no official founder of Shinto however, the Yamato clan is thought to have created and developed the religion (Ketcham). Shinto regards two histories The Nihonshoki or Chronicle of Japan, and The Kojiki or Record of Ancient Matters as sacred texts to their religion, as well as a number of texts that contain ritual and religious matters involving the shrines (Ketcham). Shinto religion believes in kami, invisible spirits or powers. …show more content…

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. Shinto coexists with Buddhism because the Japanese do not regard Shinto as a religion per say, it is more thought of as a way of life. Shinto practices ritual more than belief and each ritual must carefully follow a pattern. These rituals may include purification, prayer, offering, and a form of entertainment for the Kami (Shinto). Ethical principles are very important in Shinto along with community unity. Ethical errors are cleansed through purification. Sincerity, the harmony in both thought and action is one of the best characteristics a person can have. Harmony is key for those practicing Shinto, not just between other humans but, with kami and nature as well (Ketcham). There are many festivals or Matsuri participated in by Shinto

Show More
Related
530 Words | 3 Pages

The new Asian migrant brought rice into Japan. Japan was ruled by warrior aristocracy and each aristocratic clan controlled its own territory. Shinto emerged as the religion in early Japan. They practiced their ritual in beautiful natural places. Shinto served as a unified force in Japanese history.

Read More
953 Words | 4 Pages

What is Shinto? Discuss it. (4 points) Shinto is an ancient Japanese religion that was formed in 500 BCE. The word Shinto means “the way of the gods”.

Read More
358 Words | 2 Pages

The Shintoism’s belief is more about actions of respect towards nature. Their belief in Kami, and

Read More
2021 Words | 9 Pages

Although Japan had been open to outsiders, most accounts from those days were either destroyed or not accessible for the public. A major religion, Christianity, was introduced by European missionaries and Perry’s crew. The idea of another religion being openly accepted may have seemed obscure to this secluded community, as the interest was tremendous. The main religion of Japan was Shinto, “Shinto is an optimistic faith, as humans are thought to be fundamentally good, and evil is believed to be caused by evil spirits. Consequently, the purpose of most Shinto rituals is to keep away evil spirits by purification, prayers and offerings to the kami.”

Read More
1348 Words | 6 Pages

During this time period in Japan, they believed in good luck, or good spirits. These good spirits and luck brought them riches, fortunes and luck. In Kokugaku by Peter Nosco, he describes "Atsutane adapted these arguments to elevate Shintō over both Confucianism and Buddhism. He reasoned that the three kam—Ame no Minakanushi, Takamimusubi, and Kamimusubi—were a "Trinity," which he identified as Musubi no Okami (great creator kami). He also advanced the notion that the human soul receives final judgment by Okuninushi no Mikoto in the netherworld and that one 's eternal happiness or hardship was based on one 's deeds during life"(Nosco).

Read More
321 Words | 2 Pages

“War” Jainism and Shinto Shinto II. What is Shinto’s ideology when it comes to war? In the 20th century Shinto became its on state religion. Skya debates, that the tendency of political assassinations and ethical that led to Japanese militarism were not just about the power struggles and nationalism; instead they grew out of a Shinto movement. Shinto fundamentalists believed the emperor was sacred, absolute, and direct.

Read More
1095 Words | 5 Pages

“Buddhist thought governed how aristocrats saw the world; Buddhist institutions became a powerful political and economic force.” Throughout the Heian period two of the most prominent sects of Buddhism, Shingon and Tendai, implemented large political and ideological impacts. Kukai, the founder of Shingon Buddhism, attracted many aristocratic followers bringing artistic elements and influential Chinese ideas that aided in the validation of imperial and state power. Within Tendai Buddhism, Saicho developed a rich cosmopolitan community that promoted the protection and validation of the Japanese state. In the Heian period, sects of Buddhism represented different ideologies and exercised different impacts, acting as separate geographical foundations

Read More
206 Words | 1 Pages

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.

Read More
856 Words | 4 Pages

When Buddhism was imported from China to Japan, it brought over a full political force with it. Buddhism had a crucial role in helping develop medieval Japanese politics. Though it started with the elite then made its way to the peoples of japan, Buddhism slowly entwined into Japanese culture. It first established its self in the Nara courts when The Soga took over First, it is important to observe a brief history on how Buddhism made its way into japan to understand its true influence. Buddhism in its original form, was founded by Siddhartha Gautama.

Read More
1989 Words | 8 Pages

Only in the 6th century CE when Buddhism and Confucianism became popular did this ancient religion establish a name for itself to distinguish between other religions. Before then, Shinto was only known as groups of unnamed animists, or people who were devoted to the spirits found in nature. Considering how old the religion is, and how there is no specific religious writing for it, it is hard to place one single belief or founder on the religion. The Shinto religion also does not have any formal rites of initiation, aside from some rights of passages which, even still, are not required to practice Shinto. Shinto is not an evangelistic religion, so there has been little effort to convert others.

Read More
209 Words | 1 Pages

In Shinto, one must comprehend the fact that the religion has no set of rules or commandments to follow. Instead one must simply adopt the will of the Kami, in such a way that keeping a proper footing with him in a relationship is important. The overall aim of Shinto beliefs is to benefit social agreements and purity in all parts of life, not only spiritual purification but righteous ones where there are pure and genuine hearts. Another important guideline generally considered to pursue these purifications is Magokoro, constituting a dynamic life attitude understood as "bright, upright, pure and sincere mind". Shinto highly stresses both spiritual and physical purification to achieve this state of mind essential to making communion between

Read More
680 Words | 3 Pages

Unlike other religions the Shinto don't entirely believe in just one overarching God or even Gods they believe in the spirits, or Kami. Some of the key distinctions between Kami and Gods are that no Kami is a divine being nor are any omnipotent, Kami are not perfect unlike gods Kami do make mistakes, Kami aren't that different from humans they’re just a higher being, there and good and evil Kami, and lastly Kami aren't some untouchable godly being they don't exist in a supernatural world they reside in an extension of our world.

Read More
893 Words | 4 Pages

The religion of Shinto is also known as the way of Kami also formally known as the formal name of the state of religion of Japan being used first in the six century. Shinto possesses no sacred texts new formula system of doctrine as well as no founder. It has been active in and folding a unique way of Japanese attitude and way of life helping in create A distinguished Japanese coherence(Shinto Origins, Shinto History,2008). The history

Read More
1589 Words | 7 Pages

The earliest documentation dates back from 1868 where Shinto became officially formalized to match with Western religions (Columbia.edu, 2009) It went through many changes, especially after the second World War. However, while Shinto fulfills many roles in Japan, when it comes to dealing with the dead for example, the people focus on Buddhism, which is the second major religion in Japan. Buddhism got introduced to Japan during the 6th Century AD, which is very different than the original Indian interpretation of Buddhism, as the Japanese version comes from Chinese sages (Hendry, 2013). Due to the creation of different explanation of the aforementioned kami as Buddhas it is possible for Shinto and Buddhism to coexist without conflict, and sometimes even combined.

Read More
1258 Words | 6 Pages

(Fisher, 2014, p. 210) Shinto’s uniqueness is in its adherence to cleanliness as the decease is considered unclean. In addition, shines are kept immaculate as to always provide a clean space for the kami as buildings are replaced every twenty years. (Fisher, 2014, p. 228) Shinto is heavily based upon purification that flows from the kami to mankind. Such purification is obtained via water, spontaneous movement, or ceremonial rituals. (Fisher, 2014, p. 233-234) Impurity or tsumi brings about misfortune from the kami explaining why purification is a valued tradition or kannagara within Shinto. (Fisher, 2014,

Read More

More about Shintoism: Buddhist Influence In Japan

Related Topics

Open Document