Post on 26-Dec-2015
religion in japanreligion in japanShintoShinto
shinto
Ancient traditional and ritual practices expressing relationship between Shinto Gods and people and places of Japan
Mix of other religions: Buddhism and Taoism
Important part of people’s lives-even in contemporary Japan
No founder
No formalized ethics-It’s an approach to life
No system of dogmatic beliefs-Makoto: Sincerity of the heart
No organized system of theology
No written documents before 8th Century
Virtue is inseparable from rest of life
Beauty, truth, goodness and morality go together
Purity rituals: Inner purity necessary for truly human and spiritual life
kannagara-no-michi
The “way of the gods”The “way of the gods”
Kami
Anything that is above, special, or unusual
Essence or internal quality of phenomena
Things that inspire a sense of wonder or awe
3 types of kami
Abstract powers associated with nature
Family ancestors
Souls of the auspicious dead
Powers with nature
Powers with nature
Essence of certain weather events; bodies
of water, forests etc.
Essence of certain weather events; bodies
of water, forests etc.
Family ancestors
Family ancestorsEssence of lives of deceased are an
honored presence.Ancestors of aristocrats
will be honored by general population.
Essence of lives of deceased are an
honored presence.Ancestors of aristocrats
will be honored by general population.
Souls of auspicious
dead
Souls of auspicious
deadSoldiers and others who died in war are revered
for bravery.Many shinto shrines are dedicated to worship of
the Kami of the war dead.
Soldiers and others who died in war are revered
for bravery.Many shinto shrines are dedicated to worship of
the Kami of the war dead.
Amaterasu omikamiAmaterasu omikamiThe Sun GoddessThe Sun Goddess
Amaterasu
Born from left eye socket of the male creator kami, Izanagi.
Divine ancestor of Emperor of Japan.
Land of the rising sun
Most identified with Japan
Sun appears on Japanese flag
Nature kami and ancestor kami
State shinto
Used to support nationalism in late 19th-early 20th Century
Other religions could even be persecuted
State religion to promote ideology of Japanese superiority
Main religions in Japan today are Shintoism and BuddhismMain religions in Japan today are Shintoism and Buddhism