RELIGION ASPECT IN JAPAN
1) INTRODUCTION
According to Sir James W.(1902), the word "RELIGION" came from a Latin root word "Religare" which stands for to bind or "Religio" which had the meaning to obligation,to bond,or to reverence. These words had been combined and influence by the Old French words during the middle ages under the Monastic Vows and thus the word "RELIGION" was born. The religion aspect in Japan can be divided into 3 sections which is THE MAJOR RELIGION which had been influence by the mainland China, THE MINOR RELIGION which had been influence by the traders,merchants that had been to Japan in order to spread their beliefs derived from the open door policy by the Japanese. Next, They are the FOLK RELIGION which is the original and the religion which is the most basic in the land of Japan. These religion are mostly followed by the tribe or indigenous people of Japan.
2) MAJOR RELIGION
I)BUDDHISM
According to Bowring & John Richard (2005), Buddhism is a practice or beliefs encompasses based on teaching which is attributed to the Buddha. Buddhism was originated from India by Siddharta Gautama Buddha and soon was spread across Asia.
~Buddhism is the world's fourth-largest religion, with over 500 million followers or 7% of the global population, known as Buddhists. In Japan, traveling along this route, Mahayana Buddhism was introduced to Japan from Korea in the sixth century (traditionally, in either 538 or 552, as part of a diplomatic mission that included gifts such as an image of Shakyamuni Buddha and several volumes of Buddhist text.
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| Buddhist Temple gate in Kyoto source : |
II) SHINTO
Based on Mark Teuwan (2002) in his book From Jindo to Shinto, the Shinto religion is rather than a collective practices that had been extract from the native Japanese Archipelago tribal animism worship.
the main tradition of Shinto, has always been a part of Japan's history. It consists in taking part in worship practices and events at local shrines. The beliefs in Gods and Goddesses are so strong and the beliefs in Mythological event such as the creations of Japan by two demigods Izanami-no-Mikoto and Izanagi-no-Mikoto. Shrines are been installed around holy or mystical areas such as streams, mountain range, springs and bamboo plantations to worships and to conduct rituals.
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| Shinto cleansing ceremony source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/92886811035680182/ |
3) FOLK RELIGION
I) RYUKYUAN TRIBE
The Ryukyuan people are the indigenous people in the island of Japan or to be more specific, they live between the Island of Kyushu and Taiwan. According to Shih-Shan Henry Tsai (1996), the Ryukyuan people had the utmost close relationship with the Ming Dynasty era back in the Mainland China.
Ryukyuans tend to see themselves as bound together by their home island and, especially among older Ryukyuans, usually consider themselves from Okinawa first and Japan second.
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| Ryukyuan children kindergarten school source: |
The Ryukyu people were also creative in arts and they hold upon against their cultures and traditions. They believe that the connections between they themselves and the ancestors are at the most vital. The spirit of their ancestors will give them sign or even to predict an occasion in the future or to look back in the past of their mistakes. Traditionally, periodic gatherings of the extended family occur at the family haka, or "tomb" for information concerning the traditional dates of these gatherings. The tombs resemble houses, complete with a courtyard (naa), family name markers, and "porch" upon which offerings are arranged. A common tomb style in many areas is the so-called turtle-back tomb (kamekokata), whose roof is shaped as the acarapace of a tortoise. These tombs have variously been described as "horseshoe-shaped" or "omega-shaped" tombs by Westerners, but Okinawans believe they are shaped like a womb; the dead "return to the source".Another very common type is the gable tomb (hafukokata), which appears like a small Okinawan house.
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| Ryukyu Tomb Source: Google Image |
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| Ryukyuan Praying Altar source: Google Imagesr to Fire-God |
Link to the Music of Ryukyuan Tribe people performed in Okinawa Museum.
II) AiNu Tribe
The AiNu people were the indigenous people that currently lives in Taiwan and Japan. in 1264, the had conquer the land of The Yuan Dynasty which involves them in to a battle. The beginning of the Meiji Restoration in 1800, it was a turning poing for the AiNu's in the aspect of Social,Politics and economically. Sjöberg quotes Baba's (1980) account of the Japanese government's reasoning:
This had bring an impact to the AiNu's as they were labelled as FORMER ABORIGINES by the Japanese Government in 1899.
The Ainu are traditionally animists, believing that everything in nature has a kamuy (spirit or god) on the inside. The most important include Kamuy Fuchi, goddess of the hearth, Kim-un Kamuy, god of bears and mountains, and Repun Kamuy, god of the sea, fishing, and marine animals.
The Ainu have no priests by profession; instead the village chief performs whatever religious ceremonies are necessary. Ceremonies are confined to making libations of sake, uttering prayers, and offering willow sticks with wooden shavings attached to them. These sticks are called inaw (singular) and nusa (plural).
They are placed on an altar used to "send back" the spirits of killed animals. Ainu ceremonies for sending back bears are called Iomante. The Ainu people give thanks to the gods before eating and pray to the deity of fire in time of sickness. They believe their spirits are immortal, and that their spirits will be rewarded hereafter by ascending to kamui mosir (Land of the Gods).
The Ainu are part of a larger collective of indigenous people who practice "arctolatry" or bear worship. The Ainu believe the bear is very special because they think the bear is Kim-un Kamuy's way of delivering the gift of bear hide and meat to humans.
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| AiNu Mother Earth Thanks-Giving ceremony source: Prezi, Nadine Sarah |
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| Ainu Harvest Prayers Source: |
~~~~Ainu assimilated into mainstream Japanese society have adopted Buddhism with Shinto influences, while some northern Ainu are members of the Russian Orthodox Church. The uses of betel nut are very important in AiNu beliefs. It was the most important offerings to the Gods and ancestors.
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| A "nusa" altar: a collection of inau prayer sticks are erected to form an altar for the kamui gods at Ainu Moshiri Ichimannensai. Photo by Sheryn Gung., www.pinterest.com |
Link to You Tube Video on Ainu Ceremony
4) MINOR RELIGION
I)Christianity in Japan
Christianity in Japan is among the nation's minority religions. Fewer than one percent.
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| Oura Church in Nagasaki source: Wikipedia File |
At first Christianity was banned in Japan.
After Japan was opened to greater foreign interaction in 1853, many Christian clergymen were sent from Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox churches, though proselytism was still banned. After the Meiji Restoration, freedom of religion was introduced in 1871, giving all Christian communities the right to legal existence and preaching. Since World War II the number of Japanese Christians has been slowly increasing.Although there were fewer than one percent of christian populations in Japan.But there are 8 Christian Prime Ministers in Japan.
In Conclusion The demography aspect of Japan had been one of the influence on in coming the non-local religion of Japan.Hence, it was also one of the impact of the World War II. The Uniqueness of Japan culture and the religion had been so much more yet to be explore to those who willing to take advantages and to gain knowledge from it. The tolerance aspect is the most essential and vital as to promote unity among multi-racial and multi-cultural country.
~GANESAN A/L RAVI CHANDRAN
Matrix No: 161420031
REFERENCES:
1) W, J. (1902). The Varieies of Religious Experience: A Study in Human Nature. New Jersey,Princeton, United State Of America: Longmans Green &.Co
2)Bowring, & John, R. (2005). The Religious Traditions of Japan, 500-1600. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
3)Aston, W. (2008). Nihogi: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times. New York, U.S.America: Cosimo.
4) Teuwan, M. (2002). From Jindo to Shinto: The Kami Way (Vol. 1st Edition). Rutland VT, U.S.A: Charles E.Tuttle.
5) Henry Tsai, S. (1996). The Eunuch of Ming Dynasty. Singapore: Sunny Press.
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