Frederic is sightseing in Kyoto today with Marina from Fukuoka. More about her later...
I will use the time to share reflections on the japanese religion Shinto.
Please comment on this article…!
On this trip we have visited numerous beautiful temples and shrines – said many prayers (why not?) – and bought quite a few amulets (see display in the picture) for health and happiness. We are tourists – but 98% of the visitors to these shrines are Japanese. Naturally, I have started reflecting on religion in Japan.
Before venturing into this topic, I have to declare my ignorance and humility. My sources are the web, guidebooks, people I meet, the temples I have visitied - and an audiobook on Shinto which I downloaded (satisfyingly read by Ben Kingsley - recommended.): Shinto & Japanese New Religions.
REFLECTIONS:
============
First surprise: Shinto - here is a religion which is important to 80 million people – but unknown to me. How can I be so uninformed? This is a typical example of the richness of this insular culture to a traveller: the differences are not miniscule with what you know already - they are huge.
Second surprise: Shinto - here is religion which is pagan and polytheistic (ten thousand Gods or more - and not all kind!,). I learned in school that such a religion is primitive – but here it commands respect in a highly developed society - and plays a healthy role in peoples life (see argument below). Obviously, my childhood learning is incorrect. Here is a picture that comes to mind: Big religions, countries and big companies have big bosses (Catholicism/Pope, USA/Bush, Microsoft/Gates). But that does not mean that big is the only answer. Small is beautiful?
Third surprise: Shinto - the history of Shinto is a history of Japan. Notice these nuggets:
1 - Did not have a name until 500 DC when Buddhism arrived in Japan after a 1000 year trip from India. The term Shinto was coined to distinguish between the old and the new religion.
2 - Co-existed nicely with Buddhism for centuries
3 - Was not pressured too much by Christianity which was simply banned for 300 years from around 1612 - 1873! (only 1% of Japanese are Christians today).
4 - Was separated from Buddhist influences during the period 1868-1945 when Shinto was made a state religion
5 - Was separated in 1945 from the state by the American occupation in 1945 - and the Ministry of Religious Affairs changed into the Association of Shinto Shrines.
Why do I say that Shinto seems to play a healthy role?
I have three observations:
1 - Visiting a shrine (there are more than 80.000) gives you a healthy break: whether big or small, each shrine is a sanctuary of peace - with trees, shade and often water. Not bad in a busy life.
2 - Some shrines require you to exercise! Temples in the mountains often require fairly arduous climbs up many stairs. Is this one explanation for the long lifespan here? Not much exercise in visiting a Christian church.
3 - At each temple you rinse your hands and mouth - and make a short prayer. Research starts to indicate that prayers work – I will not judge on whether this is because they are heard – or just because they are stated. To support the latter argument: Management thinking highlights that being absolutely clear on your top most goals, is a requirement for reaching them. If you practise Shinto it seems to me that you constantly have to express your goals/prayers.
In conclusion – I have quite come to like Shinto – which I am told means “the way of the Gods” – and the purpose of which is to live in harmony with the Gods.
More on Shinto.
I will use the time to share reflections on the japanese religion Shinto.
Please comment on this article…!
On this trip we have visited numerous beautiful temples and shrines – said many prayers (why not?) – and bought quite a few amulets (see display in the picture) for health and happiness. We are tourists – but 98% of the visitors to these shrines are Japanese. Naturally, I have started reflecting on religion in Japan.
Before venturing into this topic, I have to declare my ignorance and humility. My sources are the web, guidebooks, people I meet, the temples I have visitied - and an audiobook on Shinto which I downloaded (satisfyingly read by Ben Kingsley - recommended.): Shinto & Japanese New Religions.
REFLECTIONS:
============
First surprise: Shinto - here is a religion which is important to 80 million people – but unknown to me. How can I be so uninformed? This is a typical example of the richness of this insular culture to a traveller: the differences are not miniscule with what you know already - they are huge.
Second surprise: Shinto - here is religion which is pagan and polytheistic (ten thousand Gods or more - and not all kind!,). I learned in school that such a religion is primitive – but here it commands respect in a highly developed society - and plays a healthy role in peoples life (see argument below). Obviously, my childhood learning is incorrect. Here is a picture that comes to mind: Big religions, countries and big companies have big bosses (Catholicism/Pope, USA/Bush, Microsoft/Gates). But that does not mean that big is the only answer. Small is beautiful?
Third surprise: Shinto - the history of Shinto is a history of Japan. Notice these nuggets:
1 - Did not have a name until 500 DC when Buddhism arrived in Japan after a 1000 year trip from India. The term Shinto was coined to distinguish between the old and the new religion.
2 - Co-existed nicely with Buddhism for centuries
3 - Was not pressured too much by Christianity which was simply banned for 300 years from around 1612 - 1873! (only 1% of Japanese are Christians today).
4 - Was separated from Buddhist influences during the period 1868-1945 when Shinto was made a state religion
5 - Was separated in 1945 from the state by the American occupation in 1945 - and the Ministry of Religious Affairs changed into the Association of Shinto Shrines.
Why do I say that Shinto seems to play a healthy role?
I have three observations:
1 - Visiting a shrine (there are more than 80.000) gives you a healthy break: whether big or small, each shrine is a sanctuary of peace - with trees, shade and often water. Not bad in a busy life.
2 - Some shrines require you to exercise! Temples in the mountains often require fairly arduous climbs up many stairs. Is this one explanation for the long lifespan here? Not much exercise in visiting a Christian church.
3 - At each temple you rinse your hands and mouth - and make a short prayer. Research starts to indicate that prayers work – I will not judge on whether this is because they are heard – or just because they are stated. To support the latter argument: Management thinking highlights that being absolutely clear on your top most goals, is a requirement for reaching them. If you practise Shinto it seems to me that you constantly have to express your goals/prayers.
In conclusion – I have quite come to like Shinto – which I am told means “the way of the Gods” – and the purpose of which is to live in harmony with the Gods.
More on Shinto.
3 comments:
First of all: It is a pleasure to follow you 'round the Land of the Rising Sun. A both humorous, curiosity-driven and philosophical report. It brings back a lot of memories.
And thus an addition to your reflections on Shinto. Something I picked up during my own travels in Japan years ago.
As I understand it (you may be able to verify this), the japanese have a very eclectic approach to religion:
In times of joy and celebration (births, weddings, annual festivals), Shinto is the preferred framework.
When the need is for contemplation or even grief, the serenity and introspection of Buddhism is called upon.
The two religious mindset seems to be interwoven in a most practical way, very different from the more competitive and rigoristic approach, we usually experience in the West.
Best wishes
Niels Chr. Alstrup
Dear Niels,
Great to know that you are reading the blog. And you are quite right about the work distribution. According to the book I quote, a natural division of duties developed centuries ago: Shinto takes care of the birth and life events, while Buddhism handles funerals. All very smoothly interwoven.
Best regards
Jannick
Tonami-san, our Japanese friend, made the following comment in an e-mail:
"Regarding religion in my case it looks I am a buddhist but I am not a serious buddhist as well as most Japanese peoples are.
In recent most of Japanese uses buddhism, shinto, even christianity,occasionally as a ceremony. such as baby birth, wedding, funeral ceremony, etc. etc. in any occasions of the life.
So everybody go to both shrine and temple without any doubt.
From Japanese very old ancient days, shinto and buddhism existed
simultaneously without any fight,
or battle. Both parties recognized its existence each other.
Anyway even for me it is too difficult what shinto is, but it is obvious that buddhism is originated by Buddha same as other religion like Christ.
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