quick look on invaluable Japanese culture (7) religion
(7) Religion
Fork Shinto
During Jomon era, people were supposed to enjoy rich variety of foods such as nuts, natural greens, birds, beasts, fish, shellfish and so on. Thanks to those natural blessing, people started to believe in Shamanism, or the way of thinking that everything has it’s own sprit. People found Something Great even in stones, trees and mountains which was developed into fork Shinto.
Fork Shinto which were born naturally, originated from sincere thanks to ancestors and profound respects in natures. With this solid spiritual basement, Japanese people accepted Confucianism from China and Indian Buddhism through China and Korea.
Harmonized religions
People got ready to accept those religions only by modifying their teachings to meet Japanese traditional way of thinking. For example, Buddhism which had nothing to do with worshiping ancestors in India prevailed among Japanese people only when it was strongly tied with a serving ceremony to ancestors. Since then, Buddhism has been giving strong influence on Japanese way of thinking and living.
In the world of monotheism , they expelled primitive religions exclusively. However in Japan, Shinto survived by harmonizing itself with Confucianism and Buddhism. Three were harmonized nicely and were developed into the great theory as “ sannsenn somoku shikkai joubutsu” which means everything can make itself Buddah.
Above religion cultivated Japanese special spiritual culture which respects both diversity and individuality.
Worship stones (kankou-shinji.jp)
