As it spread throughout Asia, different schools emphasized different ideas, some of which involved the worship of gods or deities. Unlike Shintoism, however, Buddhism did not originally involve the worship of gods. Where some, like "Amida" (Pure Land Buddhism), explore the celestial components of the Buddha through scripture, others, like "Zen," focus on training the mind toward awareness through meditation. Just like Shintoism, Buddhism in Japan isn’t centralized under a single authority, but rather is split into different schools, all with differing interpretations of the religion. However, it wasn’t until the Kamakura period, several hundred years later, that it really took root in the islands. From there, it made its way to Japan by about 500 AD, during the Kofun period. Buddhism originated in India, and eventually exploded in popularity throughout South and East Asia, arriving in China during the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. And what about the Buddha and bodhisattva? What do the Japanese people believe in, exactly? Who are their gods, what are their names, and what do they do? How does it all tie together?īuddhism, an import from the Asian mainland, is a bit more structured compared to traditional Shinto worship. ![]() Maybe you're even aware of their seemingly endless multitude, as every corner and neighborhood in Japan seems to have a shrine dedicated to one god or another. But chances are you have no idea where the kami fit into the religious scene in Japan today. You might have heard of kami, traditional Shinto gods of Japanese mythology. The second, temples, are places of prayer for Buddhism, a religion imported from India around 1,500 years ago. ![]() From the floating red torii (gate) of Itsukushima Bay in Hiroshima, to the graceful curves of Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa, Tokyo and its associated towering pagoda, these places of prayer are some of the most iconic and beautiful places in Japan.īut did you know that there is actually a difference between shrines and temples? The first, shrines, are places of worship for the uniquely Japanese religion called Shinto, which is as old as Japanese history itself. If you’ve ever been to Japan, or seen it on television, chances are you’ve been exposed to Japanese shrines and temples.
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