1. Shinto, Buddhism, and Christianity
Japanese Religion
Shinto, Buddhism, and Christianity

2. Early Japan 10,000-300 BC: Lived in Kingdoms organized around clans.
Hunters
Gatherers
Skilled Fisherman
Lived in Kingdoms organized around clans.
Led by a chief (inherits the position)
250 AD Yamato Clan most powerful Clan in Japan

3. Outside Influence
Learned about bronze & iron from Koreas and China and how to grow rice
Koreans introduce a religious concept called Buddhism (originated in China)
China starts to play a major role in Japan’s culture

4. Shinto
 Earthquakes, volcanoes, and typhoons make Japan a land of many violent forces. The ancient Japanese developed a great respect for nature. Their beliefs are called "Shinto," or the "way of the gods."

5. The ancient Japanese believed the gods created Japan as a special group of islands. They sent many kami, or lesser gods, to govern the land. Kami were supernatural forces with power over the mountains, the forests, the winds, and the sea. Shinto teaches that the world is filled with spirits that reside in nature.

6. Nature kami live in sacred stones, trees, mountains and other aspects of nature.  Clan kami, which are the guardian deities of specific clans.
  Another kami is the ta no kami, which is the god of the rice paddies.  This kami is worshipped at rice planting and harvest festivals.

7. The word Shinto is comprised of two Chinese characters and is often translated as "the way of the gods."  The first character, when used alone, is pronounced kami, which means "god, deity" or "divine power" and the second character means "way" or "path.

8. Similar to Ancient Greek Gods
The heavenly divinities who live on the Takamagahara (High Celestial Plain) are those kami that are similar to gods in the Western sense.  These kami are led by Amaterasu Omikami, the goddess who is worshipped at the Ise Shrine, which is the central shrine of Shinto.

9. Two books,
Kojiki (Record of Ancient Matters)
Nihon Shoki (Chronicles of Japan).
Mythical age of gods and tell how the jami Izanagi and Izanami made the Japanese Islands and the Gods

10. The Central Gods:
Amaterasu Omikami (sun goddess)
Tsukuyomi no Mikoto (moon god)
Susanoo no Mikoto (god of storms)

11. It is said that the great-great-grandson of Amaterasu Omikami (sun goddess) is Emperor Jimmu, the legendary first sovereign of Japan.
The Shinto religion doesn't have any official sacred scriptures.  Instead of emphasizing moral commandments, Shinto focuses on ritual purity and cleanliness in dealing with the kami

12. Buddhism
Introduced to Japan after the king of Paekche in Korea sent a Buddha statue and copies of sutras to the Japanese emperor during the 6th century. 
Prince Shotoku ( ) is considered to be the true founder of Buddhism though.  It was through his imperial support that major temples were built, such as Horyuji (in present day Nara Prefecture).

13. Prince Shotoku Student of Chinese literature and culture.
Established relations w/ China
Sent priests and students to study culture

14. Heian Age AD
Emperor Kammu built a new capital called Heian-kyo
Considered the Golden Age of Japan
100,000 people aristocrats, servants and artisans
Women wrote diaries, letters, etc
Lady Murasaki Shikibu world’s 1st novel “The Tale of Genji” about life in Heian-kyo

15. Heian-kyo Court 1st place Buddhism established in Japan
Emperor Shomu ( ) made Buddhism the official state religion and built the temple Todaiji at Nara along with its huge statue of Buddha.

16. Zen Buddhism Most influential in Japan
Achieve enlightenment suddenly instead of many years of painful study
To reach enlightenment focus intensely to understand certain concepts, KOANZ
Koanz: statements/questions that seem to make little or no sense
Ex: What is the sound of one hand clapping?

17. Hondo Main Hall
The sacred objects of worship, such as statues, are displayed in the main hall. In Japanese, main halls are usually called kondo, hondo, butsuden, amidado or hatto.

18. Kodo
Lecture halls are for meetings and lectures and often also display objects of worship. Lecture halls are called kodo

19. Pagoda
The pagoda, a structure that has evolved from the Indian stupa, usually comes with three (sanju no to) or five (goju no to) stories. Pagodas store remains of the Buddha such as a tooth, usually in form of a representation.

20. Gates
Mark the entrance to the temple grounds. There is usually one main gate, and possibly several additional gates, for example, along the temple's main approach.

21. Bells
On New Year's eve, temple bells are rang 108 times, corresponding to the Buddhist concept of 108 worldly desires.

22. Cemeteries
Most cemeteries in Japan are Buddhist and are located at a temple.
The Japanese visit their ancestors' graves on many occasions during the year, especially during the obon.

24. Christianity
Francis Xavier, a Jesuit missionary, went to Kagoshime in August 1549.  The Jesuit missionary work was concentrated on Kyushu (the southernmost island of Japan) and by 1579 six regional military lords were converted to Christianity.
100,000 Christians
1600, Tokugasa Ieyasu became the de facto ruler of Japan and allowed the missionaries to remain, but 14 years later the government forbade Christianity and forced the missionaries out of the country

25. Religion in Japan Now
1996 report, about 194,000,000 Japanese are members of both religions, about 54%
2.5 % of Japanese Population are Christians.

26. Links