Shrines & Temples

Ｉ think almost of you may not know the difference between Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples .

This difference explains a Japanese wonderful religious sense. Religious beliefs of the Japanese people can be divided into two. One of the two is the Shintoism faith, the other is Buddhist faith. Here, I will continue to provide an explanation about these two. First of all, letʼs look at the differences in appearance.

Shinto shrines:

Buddhist temples:

First, I need to explain the Shintoism faith of Japanese people to you.

In the mythology of Japan, 天御中主⼤神 Ameno-Minakanushino-Ohomikami (a God) created a universe, and ten thousands of years passed, a God伊耶那岐⼤神Izanagino-Ohomikami and a goddess伊耶那美⼤神Izanamino-Ohomikami of the descendant of 天御中主⼤神 cooperated and created a country that is called Toyoashiharano-kuni (Japan) on the face of the Earth.

They created the various gods of Nature.

Then, God created further many Gods to Nature. This is a beginning of Japan.

After that, 天照⼤御神 Amaterasu-Ohomikami(a goddess) who is a descendant of the God, dispatched 瓊瓊杵尊 Ninigino-Mikoto of her own grandson to Japan from the heaven,

in order to make him govern Japan.

And Gods created many Gods in Nature.

Japanese believe that God is alive in each mountain, the ocean, the river, the flower, and also in each Nature.

Therefore, Japanese people have worshipped as an object of veneration of the sun,

the moon, and a mountain from ancient times. And above-mentioned 天照⼤御神 Amaterasu- Ohomikami is worshipped as the “sun” herself, and Ninigino-Mikoto who is her grandchild was the

first God that governed Japan.

And then the first Emperor who was the direct descent was Jinmu-tenno (Jinmu-Emperor). The Tenno system follows even the present age by one system from the time of a myth.

By this fact, the Emperor has been continuing being worshipped for a long time.

The reason why the Emperor continues being admired in the history for a long time incessantly in this way by a Japanese is not only because it is continuation of simple long time.

That is because the Emperor has continued praying for Japanese happiness and global peace in any times.

You can see the fact in some of solemn ceremonies that have been continued by only the Emperor for a long time for the prayer for God.

On the early morning of the New Yearʼs Day, all the past Emperors have continued the prayer called Shihohai, for the long time of 1400 years.

It is a solemn ceremony which only the Emperor can hold, and he kneels on the ground and prays to God on all sides.

He wishes for global peace, the Japaneseʼs happiness, and health there.

罪あらば我を咎めよ天津神⺠は我が⾝の⽣みし⼦なれば

“Tsumiaraba warewoagameyo amatsukami tamihawagamino umishikonareba”

written by Meiji Emperor.

Although it is impolite, Iʼve translated this poetry.

God! Blame me without blaming him even if he committed a crime.

Because everyone of this nation is my dear precious child whom I gave birth.

Furthermore, even today the Emperor family continues doing the farming that a Japanese carries out for a long time in daily life, such as rice planting, rice-reaping

and the sericulture.

Such a deed of the Emperor familyʼs every day is a big and deep reason for continuing making Japanese people love and worship the Emperor.

As I described above, this Tenno imperial family is a family line which has continued by one system from the time of the myth also for thousands years.

And such a sacred existence of the family is also the big reason the Emperor family is worshipped.

Japanese people built the solemn house of the special style, also in order to worship God and to hold a festival.

This is a Jinja shrine.

The gate of the big stone called “⿃居 torii” is located in the front of a shrine. Each shrine has God who is called “祭神 Saijin: the enshrined deity” and has been the target of Shintoism faith.

“Saijin” dedicated at the Shinto shrine are different from each Shinto shrine. There are many shrines that have Amaterasu Ohomikami as its enshrined deity.

Japanese people love festivals truly.

Many festivals are held in front of a Shinto shrine in spring and autumn to express the feeling of thanks to God.

I will give explanation about Buddhism faith of Japanese people next. Buddhism transmitted from China to Japan about 1500 years ago.

Since there was Shintoism faith in Japan,

considering another existence as faith besides God was not accepted at the beginning.

However, a true religion is not only to worship an image for both the Shintoism faith and Buddhism faith.

And also religion is one of the philosophy that guides how human live his life.

And also religion admonishes us human should have the gentle heart, the heart without anger, and the heart that respects a partner.

Therefore Buddhism has gradually accepted by Japanese people. However, also for the faith of Buddhism, or also for the faith of Shinto, the true religion is not intended to simply worship idols.

And also, religion is one of the philosophy that leads humans to live better on his own life.

Therefore, basic providence is altogether the same in reliance of Shintoism, Buddhism reliance, or Christianity relianc

Only one thing that humans continue to seek is “love”. And human has admissibility.

Therefore, Buddhism is gradually accepted by Japanese people.

And since 聖徳太⼦ Prince Shoutoku Taishi protected and recommended Buddhism when he got the post of the regency, it permeated the Japanese heart greatly.

Soon, while time passed, the Buddhism of various denominations was introduced from China to Japan.

Moreover, Buddhistic various denominations were born at the various places of Japan. Many of Japanese are Buddhists.

And, by the succession from an ancestor, each of them becomes the Buddhist belonging to one of those denominations.

The principal object of worship(本尊) at the temple is the Buddha statue which people of each denomination worship.

The worshiped Principal image(本尊）varies according to each denomination and temple.

For example, popular principal images of Buddha:本尊 are Amida Nyorai image, Dainichi Nyorai Buddha image, and Goddess of Mercy image.

Some Buddhist priests preach an opinion that Dainichi Buddha is the center of Buddha.

And they are explaining “Dainchi Nyorai changes to the appearance of various Buddha, and saves people. ”

The sutras have various differences by a denominationt.

However, only Heart Sutra (般若⼼経) is the Buddhist scripture which all the cults evaluate. In other words, most Japanese are Buddhists and are Shinto believers.

In Japan many people pray at the Shinto shrine for New Year holidays, and carry out a funeral service at a temple.

And the doctrine of the Shintoism and that of the Buddhism are also very deep. I think that meditation in Zen Buddhism is really wonderful culture.

In order to know a thing of Japan truly, you cannot understand in many cases, unless you know about Buddhism and Shintoism.

Even Japanese people, those who understand them are really slight. We live this instant earnestly every day.

This is a Shrine!!  It has a Torii!!

This is a Temple.