Online dictionary of history and traditions in Japan: religion

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Shintoism

神道
alternative words: Shinto, Shintou
keywords: religion , shintoism
related topics: Yamato dynasty , Amaterasu , Buddhism , Nihonshoki , Kokugaku , Torii , Shimenawa , Jindai moji
related web sites: http://www.shinto.org , http://www.jinja.or.jp , http://www.kamnavi.net , http://www3.wind.ne.jp/~tnroom/
explanation: Indigenous religion based on a cult of the nature and great figures. Shintoists build no statues but only places to pray like in Islam or Judaism. There exist 2 groups of shintoism: the first, classic one, is tightly integrated into the state system built by Yamato dynasty. Ise-jingu which worships Amaterasu, is an example. The second category, "koshinto" i.e. old shinto, looks like an animism. During the Middle Ages, Shinto gods were frequently confounded with Buddhism (Honji suijaku theory).

Shugendo

修験道
alternative words: Shugen-do, Shugen do, Shugendou
keywords: mystery , religion , shintoism
related topics: Esoteric Buddhism , Shingon sect , Tendai sect , Yamabushi , Heian period , Nara period , Shintoism , En no ozunu
related web sites: http://www1.tcnet.ne.jp/miko/ , http://www.os.rim.or.jp/~yfuku/ , http://www.coara.or.jp/~daikoin/ , http://www1.ocn.ne.jp/~nijitu/index.htm
explanation: Merging a mountain faith proper to Japan and Esoteric Buddhism coming from China, this religious practice had become popular during Heian period though En no ozunu of Nara period is considered the founder. It consists to carry out ascetic religious disciplines in mountains in order to increase the spiritual power. The members of this religious order are called "Yamabushi" and usually adhere to Shingon or Tendai sects. Their favorite training grounds are Mts Dewa, Futara, Ontake, Hakusan etc.

Taoism

道教
alternative words: Dokyo, Doukyou
keywords: china , religion
related topics: Sennin , Buddhism , Motoori Norinaga , Heian period
related web sites: http://www.geocities.co.jp/HeartLand-Poplar/9843/contents.htm , http://www2s.biglobe.ne.jp/~xianxue/
explanation: Taoism is one of the 3 most popular religions in China with Buddhism and Confucianism. According to Motoori Norinaga of Kokugaku school, it has never been implemented officially in Japan but it gave some influences through Buddhism and Confucianism which had interacted with Taoism before arriving to Japan. In spite of a ban of Taoism, the concept of "Sennin" who promises a long or eternal life had been popular until Heian period but declined with the arrival of more comprehensible new Buddhism.

Tengu

天狗
keywords: god , mystery , religion
related topics: Heian period , Minamoto no Yoshitsune , Yamabushi
related web sites: http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~fd4h-krng/
explanation: Humanoid creatures living in Japanese mountains. They were wearing clothes like training Buddhist monks (Yamabushi) and feared to be responsible of kidnapping thanks to their magical powers (able to fly with their fan and to make themselves invisible). Because of their physiognomy (red face and great nose), there exists a thesis that they might be survivors of a wrecked Arabic or Jewish merchant ship. Minamoto no Yoshitsune was considered as a Tengu because of his ability when he was young.

Tenrikyo

天理教
alternative words: Tenri kyo, Tenri sect, Tenrikyo sect
keywords: religion , shintoism
related topics: Edo period , Meiji period , Shintoism
related web sites: http://www.tenrikyo.or.jp
explanation: Shintoism sect founded by Nakayama Miki, woman married with a rich farmer of Yamato region. Through an extreme sufferance of family problems, one day, she revealed the god wish by writing down an oracle and organized peasants to transform the society (yonaoshi). The movement was persecuted several times by Meiji government but recognized in 1908 after her death. Tenrikyo owns 16,000 temples over the world and an university. Its headquarters is located at Tenry city in Nara prefecture.

Yamabushi

山伏山臥
alternative words: Yama-bushi, Yama bushi
keywords: ninja , religion
related topics: Shugendo , Heian period , Ninja
explanation: Literally those who sleep in mountains, they belong to Shugendo order which consists to practice austerities in mountains in order to get magic power. They are easily recognizable by their dress: a small black cap (tokin), a checkered kimono (suzukake), a Buddhist rosary (nenju), a conch-shell trumpet (horagai), a staff with rings (shakujo). During middle ages, Yamabushi became one of ninja's preferred disguise methods because it allowed them to move freely without provoking any suspicion.

Zen

禅禅宗
alternative words: Zen sect, Zenshu, Zen shu
keywords: buddhism , china , religion , sect
related topics: Daruma , Buddhism , Kamakura period , Rinzai sect , Myoan Yosai , Soto sect , Eihe Dogen
related web sites: http://www.ah.wakwak.com/~lotus/ , http://www.zenbunka.or.jp
explanation: One of Buddhist doctrines which gives an importance to the meditation and existed in India since old times. Daruma (Bodhidharma) propagated it to China around 5th century. In Japan it arrived during Nara period but hadn't become popular until Kamakura period when Eisai and Dogen brought from China respectively Rinzai and Soto teachings. Then, Zen gave great influences to Japanese architecture and literature. Zen comes from dhyana in Sanskrit, i.e. "meditation".

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17 articles extracted from postgresql database.