Most Japanese are both Shinto and Buddhist. Shintoism is the worship or spirits - of nature,
ancestors and heroes, and is the original religion of Japan. It is unusual in that it has no
founder and no central book like the bible. Shintoism emphasized happiness now, and people
pray to various Shinto gods for worldly success, romance and possessions. Until Buddhism
came along the religion had no name (no need to name your religion when there is only one).
Shintoism emphasized purity, which they often interpret as cleanliness. Sometimes Shinto
shrines and Buddhist temples look very similar, but the tori gates (symbolic barriers to impurity)
are only present at Shinto sites. Shintoism is also big on lanterns (see below, with the first plum
blossoms of the new year). Both pictures were taken at the Kitano Tenmangu shrine near
Tokyo. This shrine in theory holds the spirit of a famous scholar, and students pray there
before exams.
ancestors and heroes, and is the original religion of Japan. It is unusual in that it has no
founder and no central book like the bible. Shintoism emphasized happiness now, and people
pray to various Shinto gods for worldly success, romance and possessions. Until Buddhism
came along the religion had no name (no need to name your religion when there is only one).
Shintoism emphasized purity, which they often interpret as cleanliness. Sometimes Shinto
shrines and Buddhist temples look very similar, but the tori gates (symbolic barriers to impurity)
are only present at Shinto sites. Shintoism is also big on lanterns (see below, with the first plum
blossoms of the new year). Both pictures were taken at the Kitano Tenmangu shrine near
Tokyo. This shrine in theory holds the spirit of a famous scholar, and students pray there
before exams.
