The aim of this book is to develop and illustrate particular key issues in the wider new religions and media nexus by using specific movements as examples. Shinto is as old as the japanese culture, while buddhism was imported from the mainland in the 6th century. This belief came to be known as shinto and was established as an official religion after buddhism and confucianism were introduced to japan from the asian continent. Most japanese, however, dont identify with any religion at all. For a time it seemed that all religions were being tarred with the same brush, and that japan had become suspicious even of its most deeply established religions like buddhism and shinto. Two other noteworthy components of the japanese religious tradition are christianity and the new religions. An important corrective to more common malecentered narratives of japanese religious history, this text presents a synthetic long view of japanese religions from a distinct angle that has typically been discounted in standard.
This text examines the major areas in which the japanese participate in religious events, the role of religion in the social system and the underlying views within the japanese religious world. Media and new religions in japan routledge research in. During the meiji era 18681912, the emperor regained power from the shogun and turned to shinto to bolster feelings of nationalism and reverence for the emperor. Japan is one of the worlds least religious countries, according to a gallup survey this year. New religions that prospered in the postwar period have hit a slump.
To them the whole world was permeated by sacred power, authenticated by myths. Among aeras cluster of articles is one titled, do todays japanese need religion. To many countries, this fact is exactly why people question their methods. In addition to the traditional religions of shinto and buddhism, japan is also home to more than 600 new religions shinko shukyo, which incorporate buddhist, shinto, and christian elements. In ancient times, the japanese believed that all natural phenomena, animals, and plants possesed kami, or divine power.
In short, japanese perspective on religion is that believing and praying leads to. Confucianism is one of the three traditional chinese religions, besides taoism and buddhism. The primary religions in japan are buddhism and shinto, the way of the gods. Shinto is based on the worship of nature and ancestors. The new religions are often contrasted with the established religions, namely the various sects of buddhism and shrine shinto. Introducing buddhism is the ideal resource for all students beginning the study of this fascinating religious tradition. Contemporary religions in japan was published from 1960 to 1970 by the international institute for the study of religions in tokyo. Ambros examines the roles that women have played in the religions of japan. Total adherents exceeds 100% because many japanese people 91. Shinto and buddhism are japans two major religions. The main religions in japan are shinto and buddhism. Four years later, in 1974, it was revived as the japanese journal of religious studies. Through a series of case studies of religion in action at crowded temples and festivals, in. It gained few followers at the time, and the tokugawa family suppressed christianity in the seventeenth century.
Shinto, indigenous religious beliefs and practices of japan. There is no central authority in control of the movement and much. Its author is the eminent novelist and essayist hiroyuki itsuki, who wrote in his 1998 nonfiction book. The thesis concludes with an analysis of current attitudes toward religion in japan, with a focus on the opinions of college students. Japanese religions are similar to chinese religions in the multiplicity of demons with which humans must contend. Religion does not play a big role in the everyday life of most japanese people today.
Recent trends in the study of japanese new religions by. The majority of japanese adhere to shintoism, a traditional japanese religion focusing on rituals and worship at shrines. When one searches japanese religion in a search engine, the resulting images reveal the perceptions of what religion in japan means. To provide an introduction to china and japan s four major religions. Shinto eventually found itself in a subservient role to buddhism, especially in the tokugawa era 16031867, when all japanese had to register at a buddhist temple. Religion in contemporary japan is a highly enjoyable, informative and surprisingly readable book on the somewhat obscure subject of religion in contemporary japan. According to early japanese writings, it was introduced to japan via korea in the year 285 ad. I think there can be several answers depending on your point of view. These religions arent necessarily alternately practiced, but it is common for them to be interwoven.
Folk religions are generally seen by scholars as collections of amorphous traditions, customs, practices, and superstitions reader 2006. List of religions and spiritual traditions wikipedia. A question that many foreigners to japan seem to ask is, are japanese people religious. Christianity entered japan first in the sixteenth century, when catholicism was introduced in 1549. Statistics regarding confidence in religious organizations plummeted, and popular attitudes towards religion turned pervasively negative. An overview ian reader university of lancaster introduction in japan the term new religions japanese. These images that reveal iconic red shinto gates, or torii, weathered buddha statues, and ceremonial processions at picturesque temples and shrines, are instantly recognizable as fundamental embodiments of japanese religion.
The average person typically follows the religious rituals at ceremonies like birth, weddings and funerals, may visit a shrine or temple on new year and participates at local festivals matsuri, most of which have a religious background. In modern japan there are around 25,000 shinto shrines dedicated to hachiman, which makes him the second most popular god after inari. Yet some observers have noted an uptick in the number of young people visiting religious sites at. In this video series, harvard university professors theodore bestor and helen hardacre discuss the impact of religious values and traditions on japanese life. Since then, the two religions have been coexisting relatively harmoniously and have even conplemented each other to a certain degree. According to the annual statistical research on religion in 2015 by the agency for culture affairs, government of japan, 70. The concept of new religions the concept of new religions was first used in japan following the end of world war ii. And many new new religions are viewed with suspicion, as potential aum shinrikyos. Throughout the japanese medieval period, hachiman was one of the most worshipped gods in the country. In 1981 the editorship was transferred to the nanzan institute for religion and culture. Religion in japanese history by joseph mitsuo kitagawa. An overview like many other ethnic groups throughout the world, the earliest inhabitants of the japanese archipelago constructed and lived in a religious world of meaning. Folk religions stands apart from other religions also in the fact that there usually is not a doctrinal focus that binds them together, and rules and traditions are often regional. Grade level this lesson was developed for middle school students.
Advances in the study of social structwes in general and of japanese society in particular, as well as changes in the religious scene since the end of the world war ii, have come to suggest that the classification. Most japanese people do not identify as exclusively belonging to just one religion, but incorporate features of both religions into their daily lives in a process known as syncretism. Although a bit dated, this is a wonderfully written book about japanese religions. The essence of shintoism is kami, the divine spirit found in all things in heaven. Every so often, i get asked by friends or relatives overseas if japanese people are religious. He was the tutelary god for both the samurai warriors and even the peasantry. Japanese people clearly understand the meaning of the word and that is why when asked if they are atheist they say no, but when asked if they have no religious affiliation they say yes, as they pick and choose to believe maybe different things from many different religions at the same time. Recent trends in the study of japanese new religions. In nonreligious japan, the shrine can still exert a. Among the most fearsome of the japanese demons are the oni, evil spirits with much power, and the tengu, spirits that possess human beings and that generally must.
Japanese new religions are new religious movements established in japan. This latter was based on the cultural and value systems of japan, and originated from the religious consciousness, magicoreligious needs, and social system of the people. The old religions are increasingly marginal in the lives of most people. Concepts buddhism is a religion based on the teachings of siddartha gautama, an indian prince who lived in the 6 th. In 2017, around 70 percent of the total population of japan participated. Books have been written about the subject, dealing indepth with all kinds of topics ranging from shinto, buddhism, yasukuni shrine and organizations such as soka gakkai to the importance of the humble neighborhood shrine.
Most of japanese people believe in both these religions. Religions that are commonly synced include shinto and buddhism. Harder to trace than that of confucianism, the influence of religious taoism in japan can be found in the use of the chinese calendar and in popular beliefs. Japanese buddhism a form and character so markedly different from that of indian or theravada buddhism is japanese folk religion or popular shinto. Shinto, also known as kaminomichi, is a religion originating from japan. Many are overseen by insular priesthoods preoccupied with making money and passing it on to the next generation. Also, some other japanese religions, including tenrikyo, have originated from or been influenced by shinto. Shinto and buddhism, religions in japan lets travel. There are original strands and added strands in japanese religious history, none discarded, always changing and growing. Classified as an east asian religion by scholars of religion, its practitioners often regard it as japans indigenous religion and as a nature religion. Japanese scholars classify all religious organizations founded since the middle of the 19th century as new religions. The word, which literally means the way of kami generally sacred or divine power, specifically the various gods or deities, came into use to distinguish indigenous japanese beliefs from buddhism, which had been introduced into japan in the 6th century ce. Many japanese cultural customs, like using wooden chopsticks and removing shoes before entering a building, have their origin in shinto beliefs and practices.
In japanese, they are called shinshukyo or shinko shukyo. Religion has a way of representing a certain way of life, providing a basis for faith to live by, and brings a sense of belonging to many cultures in our world. In particular, the analysis of the interaction between media and new religions will focus primarily on three case studies predominantly during the first period of development of the groups. Atsuta shrine, nagoya, shrine to the imperial sword kusanagi. Contemporary religions in japan nanzan institute for. What role does religion play in contemporary japanese society and in the lives of japanese people today. Folk religion on in history japan of continuity md clwnge.
Some academics studying the subject have divided religions into three broad categories. Its not a classic history of but, as stated in the title, a description of the influences and changes by political and social factors that followed the development of the religious feelings in japan. Buddhism and shintoism are the two major religions in japan. A brocade of religious traditions developed over 2,000 years and consisting of indigenous folk religion, organized shinto, various schools of buddhism, confucian teachings, taoist practices, and even christian influences. Japanese people are religious when they visit their shrines at certain appointed times and milestones in their lives etc. Many religions are practiced in japan the two major ones are buddhism and shintoism. As an ma student studying religion in japan, this book was recommended as a starting place, and i found it invaluable. Since then, the two religions have been coexisting relatively harmoniously and have even complemented each other to a certain degree.