Key Questions

What were the main religions and why were they important?

What was the Shinto Myth?

Religion and Power

● Highly important part of life for Japanese people● Influenced social and political structures● 3 main belief systems -

● Shinto● Buddhism (including Zen Buddhism)● Confucianism

● "Japanese Religion" is a general term used to describe the unique combination of a great variety of religious traditions within Japan.

● Religion in Japan reflects a long history during which various religious beliefs and practices—some indigenous, some "imported" from other places—have been adopted and adapted to Japanese culture.

● The ancient indigenous folk religion, later formalized as Shinto, was based on feelings of awe toward the sacred powers (kami) that brought life to the earth and human community.

Shinto shrine

● In the 6th century C.E., Buddhism was introduced into Japan; it both influenced Shinto beliefs and practices and also incorporated Shinto elements.

● Both Confucianism and Taoism migrated to Japan, impacting Japanese culture, religion, philosophy, and politics.

● Japanese religion adopted Chinese Buddhist rituals, Taoist story-telling and divination, as well as Confucian concepts of piety and ancestor veneration.

Buddhist Shrine Japan

View the clip and consider the different beliefs events that are part of each belief

Activity

Read pages 396 and 397, draw up a table like the one below and complete

How the religion was introduced

Key aspects and how this influences life

Shinto

Buddhism

Confucianism

Shinto● Shinto ("the way of the gods")

is the indigenous faith of the Japanese people and as old as Japan itself. It remains Japan's major religion alongside Buddhism.

● "Shinto gods" are called kami. They are sacred spirits which take the form of things and concepts important to life, such as wind, rain, mountains, trees, rivers and fertility.

● The oldest religion in Japan● Part of early clan life

Comic creator

Form groups of 3 Use the internet tool - “Pixton” to recreate the story on page 391 of the Shinto mythOr You can sketch your own hand drawn comic