Japanese religion is polytheistic
Hello everyone! This is Ichi. This time I received a request about Japanese religion, so I would like to break it down for you. Stephanie, thank you again for your request!
So, what religion does Japan follow?
To the greater world, Japan’s religion is classified as “Buddhism”, but few Japanese are aware that they are Buddhists, and some say that they are “non-religious.” Japan, in recent years, has incorporated various religions such as Shintoism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Christianity.
Religions are broadly classified into two types. Ethnic religions (such as Shinto) and founding religions (Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, etc.). What is the difference between them?
Let’s start with ethnic religion.
1. Ethnic religion
Ethnic religion is a religion that originated and developed as part of ethnic lifestyles and leisure. It has no founder and is characterized by its deep connection with mythology.
“Shinto” is an ethnic religion particular to Japan, and in Shinto, various objects are gods and are objects of worship. The Japanese freely worship various objects as gods. There are “the gods of Yaoyorozu*” in Japanese Shinto. I think Studio Ghibli’s “Princess Mononoke” is a good representation of this. In this work, the structure of nature is god and is presented in an easy-to-understand manner; with okkotonushi (boar gods) , inugami (dog gods), the shishigami (the dear god) and the kodama (forest spirits).
* Yaoyorozu means so many and various things in Japanese. People have come to treat many things such as forests and animals as gods).
… Okay, that is “ethnic religion” in a nutshell. Now let’s look at, the more internationally familiar, founding religions.
2. Founding religion (Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Confucianism, etc.)
Founding religion is a religion that has a clear founder and is developed based on the teachings of the founder. These are typically more internationally recognized, i.e. as Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam.
Now, let’s look at some examples of Japan incorporating various religions such as Shinto, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Christianity into their society.
3. Specific examples of religion in Japanese life
3.1. Incorporations of Ethnic religion
・ Shinto (shrine): Shichigosan, Hatsumode, prayer for success, livestock soul festival *
* The Livestock Festival is a ritual where people revere and pray for the peace, comfort and spirit of livestock, who have been sacrificed for humanity.
3.2. Incorporations of Founding religion
・ Confucianism: Morality classes:
This is based on the tradition on showing respect for the value of “learning”. It is strongly emphasized in this religion that the Japanese take their study or work very seriously.
・ Christianity: Halloween, Christmas, weddings
・ Buddhism (temple): Funerals
To illustrate this polytheistic culture, let me share a little story of a girlfriend of mine since childhood.
<Story>
She went to a Shichigosan event with her parents when she was 7. They were pleased with her growth and bought her some Chitose candy as a gift. She went onto attend a moral class at elementary school, where she was told by her teacher to “be considerate of others, value etiquette, and learn seriously.” She felt her class valued this teaching and everyone, followed the rules, and studied hard. (Alas, she often overslept in the morning and angered her teacher with her tardy arrival). A decade later, at college, she recalled dressing up in cosplay for Halloween with friends, looking forward to Christmas and dating her boyfriend. Later on, my best friend got married and forged another precious memory, adorning her beloved wedding dress. As cruel or merciful fate would have it, her beloved grandparents would pass on shortly after. Her relatives mourned their passing with her and attended their funeral together – traditionally held at a temple. She had gone onto work in the meat industry as a “civil servant” and participated in the Livestock Festival. She offered flowers, liquor and vegetables; praying for the continued respect of the livestock animals who had been scarified for the sustenance of humanity.
What do you think of her life story? Do you feel that Japanese society is polytheistic?
<Summary>
Why do Japanese people assimilate various religions in their culture?
Originally, the Japanese are a type of society that tend to take in and worship anything that is auspicious or socially respected. Just as there are “the gods of Yaoyorozu” in people’s consciousness, there are many objects of worship in the Japanese mind (although many Japanese attend the event without thinking about this).
In addition, the climate of Japan is also considered to have an effect. While Japan has four seasons and is blessed with abundant nature, it also has a severe side that causes many damages such as earthquakes. I believe that everything in nature has power beyond human intelligence (i.e. nature trumps human power). Therefore, I think that Japanese people may feel unfamiliar with believing in a clear founder, a single god. Of course, some Japanese follow only one religion!
Finally, I’d like to leave you with a word of advice should you watch a Japanese anime, such as (my beloved) Studio Ghibli movies. There are many messages connected to Japanese faith hidden in these movies. So if you watch a Studio Ghibli movie with a hint of Japanese mythology after reading this article; look out for these religious references. You may be able to appreciate the movie from an entirely different perspective.
What do you think of Japan and its religion?
★ If you have a request for the topic of the article, please write it in the comment section. In addition, this article was created by receiving a request on the following You Tube called Shikaku World. Please come visit us on You Tube!
Thank you for reading!
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