What the religion of the Japanese? The religion of the population of the Japanese Islands

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2018-03-19 03:30:14

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It is Known that Japan – one of the leading countries in the field of science and technology, international politics and trade. But despite the economic miracle that occurred in this country after the Second world war, its people still retained their unique identity. It distinguishes the Japanese from the rest of the world. Yes, their culture borrowed a lot from other people. But they successfully managed to adapt all innovations to fit their traditions. However, the persistent cultural basis of the Country of the rising sun is still the native religion of the Japanese.

Folk beliefs

Despite the high development of information technology, for residents of Western countries, Japanese culture still remains a mystery. This is especially true of old beliefs. If you ask what the religion of the Japanese, many of the answers that Buddhism. But this statement is not entirely correct, as this creed got on the island from China only in the VI century. It was then that the land began to arrive the first Buddhist monks. They brought with them the sacred books, written in their native language. The following question arises: what religion the Japanese were before the advent of Buddhism?

Scientists have proved that initially each nation had its own beliefs that implied a certain religious practice and not associated with the Church hierarchy. It was a number of actions and views that were based on superstition, prejudice, etc.

Japanese religion

Ancient cults

Japan has long worshipped different living beings. One of the most widespread was the cult of the Fox. The deity in the image of this animal with a human body and mind dedicated special temples that have survived to the present day. There are still people with so-called Fox-kind. Falling into a trance under sounds of drums and heart-rending howls of the priests, they think that they infused the Holy spirit, sending them the gift of the seer, able to predict the future.

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In addition to foxes, the Japanese worship and other living beings, for example, snakes, turtles, dragonflies and even shellfish. Until recently, the dominant animals were the wolf. It was called spirit of the mountains OK. Farmers usually asked him about the protection of crops and themselves from various troubles and misfortunes, fishermen – sending a favorable wind, etc. But whatever the animal may worship ancient and modern, the islanders, it's just beliefs. About the name of the religion of the Japanese is actually and what it is, try to understand in this article.

the religion of the Japanese

Shinto – path of the gods

It was acknowledged By scholars of ancient religion on the Islands of Japan has developed separately from the Chinese, and reliable sources of its occurrence are still not found. It is called Shinto, or the path of the gods. The truth is, the majority of Japanese are not so important origin and essence of the religion, for them it is also the tradition, history and life itself.

Shinto can be compared with the ancient mythology, and the meaning and purpose of Shinto is to affirm the cultural identity of Japan and the divine origin of its people. According to this religion, first came the Emperor (Mikado), a descendant of the sky spirits, and then each of the Japanese – his offspring (kami). In this case, the object of worship are ancestors, or the souls of the dead patrons of families.

What the religion of the Japanese

Written sources

The Major religious documents of Shinto are two collections of myths – Nihongo and Kojiki, written by the servants of the Emperor after 712 years, as well as detailed instructions with ancient prayers and rituals & ndash; Engishiki. Historians believe that because the data written sources appeared much later than the events in question, there may be somewhat distorted the original spiritual practices and beliefs of Shinto. But, anyway, one can see that the ancient Japanese religion and traditions which were concentrated mainly around their family and kin, as well as agricultural feasts, worshipped life.

The Shamans who performed the duties of the clergy and spoke to the believers on behalf of the ancestors (kami), were considered as soldiers who fought with evil spirits. They challenged the gods, using Kagura – a traditional religion sacred dance performed young girls. It's safe to say that much of traditional Japanese art, music and literature with its roots traced back precisely to the ancient shamanistic rituals of Shintoism.

the national religion of the Japanese

Basic religious concepts

Very interesting is the view of the world that has managed to shape believers by the Japanese. Religion of Shintoism is based on five main concepts, and the first of them reads: the world was not created by God - he arose by himself, and he's not just good, but perfect.

The Second concept celebrates the power of life. According to Japanese mythology, the first sex happened between deities. That is why the moral and physical intimacy between a man and a woman in the minds of the Japanese are completely unrelated. It follows from this that everything natural must be respected, and all "not clean" - condemned, but all can be subjected to purification. Due to such beliefs, the Japanese tend to adapt to almost any upgrading, cleaning and adjusting it in accordance with their traditions.

The Third concept Shinto – the unity of history and nature. The religion of the Japanese, divides the world into animate and inanimate, i.e., in man, animal or any thing living kami. This God dwells not in the hereafter, and live together with people, so believers do not need to seek refuge somewhere else, it is always close, everyday life.

The Fourth concept – it is polytheism. As Shinto is closely associated with ancestral deities, he came out of cults, glorifying the nature of a particular area. Various magical and shamanic rituals only to V or VI century, began gradually to lead to the well-known uniformity, and only then, when the Emperor decided to take control of the activities of all Shinto shrines. Then specially created Department made a list of all the Shinto gods, which was neither more nor less, and 3132! Over time, their number only increased.

What religion the Japanese

Ethnic religion of the Japanese people

The Last concept of Shinto is the national psychological basis. According to her, the gods kami did not create all men, but only some of the Japanese, therefore, almost from the cradle, every resident of the Country of the rising sun knows that he belongs to this religion. Such a doctrine formed the two behaviors. On the one hand, kami are associated only with the Japanese nation, therefore, will look ridiculous and absurd, if any foreigner begin to practice Shinto. On the other hand, every believer can become a Shinto adherent of any other religious doctrine at the same time.

Religious practice

Immediately I must say that the life of a Shinto quite diverse, though, and revolves mainly around the temples. Symbols of the Holy land is a torii, which is a large gate shaped like the Greek letter "P" with two horizontal reami. Further along the path to the main building of the sanctuary will be located specially prepared place intended for the ablutions of the faithful.

Creating your own ritual structures, the Japanese, the religion which, as it turned out, is considerably different from other religions, divide them into several zones. In the place of honor always have sentai (the embodiment of the kami). It can be a sword, a jewel or mirror. It should be noted that sentai – is not the object of worship: believers pray to the deity that inhabits this subject.

what is the religion of the Japanese

Cleansing Ritual

Perhaps most seriously to him, it was the Japanese. Religion Shinto tradition requires a high purity. For example, a woman who goes to worship, before reaching the main Shrine is a must stop to perform the ritual ablution. Then she lights incense or make an offering, dropping a coin in a special box for donations.

He Came to the sanctuary, a woman should turn to the altar, face and head twice, clap your hands, then fold hands in front of face with palms together. This ritual is designed to invoke kami, but it can be made at home. The fact that many Japanese homes have a kami-Dana – small family altars where ritual veneration of ancestors.

Ancestral religion of the Japanese

Religious celebrations

The Main festival is the annual Shinto Matsuri, which in some churches can be celebrated twice a year. This word is embedded the notion of ritual about the whole system, which includes not only the religion of the Japanese, but their way of life. Typically, these festivities associated with the harvest or the beginning of agricultural work, as well as any memorable date related to the history of the sanctuary...


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BE: https://www.tostpost.com/be/duho-nae-razv-cce/6927-yakuyu-rel-g-yu-vyznayuc-yaponcy-rel-g-ya-nasel-n-ctva-yaponsk-h-vyspa.html

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ES: https://www.tostpost.com/es/el-desarrollo-espiritual/6933-qu-religi-n-profesan-los-japoneses-la-religi-n-de-la-poblaci-n-de-las-.html

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PT: https://www.tostpost.com/pt/desenvolvimento-espiritual/6927-qual-a-religi-o-que-professam-os-japoneses-a-religi-o-da-popula-o-ilha.html

TR: https://www.tostpost.com/tr/ruhsal-geli-im/6933-hangi-dine-ikrar-japonlar-din-n-fus-japon-adalar.html

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Alin Trodden - author of the article, editor
"Hi, I'm Alin Trodden. I write texts, read books, and look for impressions. And I'm not bad at telling you about it. I am always happy to participate in interesting projects."

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