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