Japan Beliefs and Values

Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism

Buddhism

• Began in India about 2500 years ago• Started by Prince Siddhartha Guatama– Achieved a state of nirvana meaning perfect

peace– Became known as the Buddha which means

‘enlightened one’• Many Japanese accept both Shinto and

Buddhism

Buddhism’s Four Noble Truths

1. All life involves suffering2. Suffering is caused by desire3. Desire can be overcome4. The way to overcome desire is to follow the

Noble Eightfold Path

The Eightfold Path

Buddhist Temples

• Made of unpainted wood

• Often included a bell tower and a pagoda

• Some were simple but some were richly decorated

Zen Buddhism

• Zen Buddhism involves study of texts and meditation

• A Zen teacher may present a riddle or short story known as a koan for the follower to mediate on using intuition rather than reasoning to solve in a sudden flash of insight called satori

• A very famous and short Koan “What is the sound of one hand clapping? Is actually part of a longer story.

Five elements of the Buddhist Universe

• Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, Space

Christianity

• Brought to Japan by Portuguese missionary Francis Xavier in 1549

• Some daimyo even converted but later Christians were persecuted by Japan’s military rulers

• Today only about 2 percent are Christian

Confucianism

• Generally considered a philosophy rather than a religion

• It is a set of rules based on teachings of Gong Qui (Confucius to English speakers)

• In some ways it meshed well with Shinto• Loyalty , obedience and duty to parents and

also to authority are important

Review

• Reading : History Alive 8 - Section 8.7• Questions– In what ways are Shinto and Buddhism different? – List four activities that take place in a Shinto

shrine.– Explain what Zen Koans are and what they are

used for.– All life is sacred in Buddhist beliefs. How might this

affect the eating habits of Buddhists?