Religion in Japan

Religion is an essential part of every culture. In Japan, two primary religions are observed: Shintoism and Buddhism. According to survey, about 83.9% of the population identifies as Shinto and 71.4% identify as Buddhist. An additional 7.8% is comprised of other various religions. As you’ve probably noticed, these numbers add up to more than 100%. That’s because in Japan, most people claim more than one religion. This is called syncretism. Particularly, Shinto and Buddhism are often interwoven and practiced together (Japan).

It’s quite unusual to see two religions coexist so nicely together. To understand why this is, we must take a closer look at them. Shinto (way of the spirits) has been a part of Japanese culture for nearly as long as it’s been around. The spirits, or kami, in question are the deities worshipped in Shinto. They are said to pervade the natural world and are in charge of many phenomenon. Until the conclusion of World War II, the emperor was considered the protector kami of the people. Followers seek to keep nature in balance by performing rituals to placate the kami. It was through these rituals that Shinto was passed down through the generations. Eventually, shrines were built to honor the kami and to serve as a place to perform rituals (Watt).

Buddhism was introduced to Japan around the sixth century B.C. and quickly became popular. It originated in India and spread to China and Korea before arriving in Japan. Buddhists follow the teachings of the Buddha, who taught that in order to escape the cosmic cycle of suffering, an individual must obtain enlightenment through meditation and study. Throughout the years, various Buddhist sects arose in Japan. One was Shingon, which taught enlightenment could be achieved through mandalas (images of the Buddha), mudras (symbolic hand gestures), and mantras (sacred chants). Other popular sects included Zen and Pure Land (Watt).

Because Shinto deals primarily with spirituality in the here and now and Buddhism deals with spirituality in the next life, the two religions have been able to exists alongside each other in harmony. For example, Shinto traditions are often observed during wedding ceremonies while Buddhist practices are conducted during funerals. However, outside of special occasions, neither religion is generally practiced on a regular basis by the Japanese people. That is because after the nation’s defeat in World War II, many of its people embraced more secular ideologies. Instead, the practices and morals of the two religions are woven into the very culture of Japan itself. Many Japanese now see Shinto and Buddhism as a way of life rather than a form of spirituality (Shinto).

Work Cited

“Japan.” ReligionFacts, 28 Oct. 2016, http://www.religionfacts.com/japan.

“Shinto, Buddhism and the Japanese Belief System.” Inside Japanese Tours, http://www.insidejapantours.com/japanese-culture/religion/.

Watt, Paul. “Japanese Religions.” FSI | SPICE, Oct. 2003, spice.fsi.stanford.edu/docs/japanese_religions.