Why does Shintoism have no teachings -No.1

2022年10月02日

神道には、開祖も、教義も、救済もありません。日本人の私たちはいつの間にか神道の信者になっています。古代から守り続けられてきた日本固有の宗教の本質とは何でしょうか？神道は日本人を知るための鍵であるかもしれません。(English) Shinto has no founder, no doctrine, and no salvation. Nevertheless, we Japanese have become followers of Shinto before we know it. What is the essence of Japan's unique religion that has been protected since ancient times? Shinto may be the key to getting to know the Japanese.

Why does Shintoism have no teachings?

There are many different religions throughout the world.

Since the birth of human societies, there has not been a single ethnic group or nation in which religion has not existed at all.

In this respect, religion is a fundamental component of human society.

In the case of Japan, many people consider themselves 'non-religious.'

Within Japan, people are rarely asked about their religious affiliation.

However, when they go abroad, they are asked about it.

Many Japanese people are then confused.

This is because they usually consider themselves to be non-religious.

On the other hand, they are involved in religion in various ways.

Hatsumode (New Year's visits to shrines and temples).

Funerals are usually held in a Buddhist ceremony.

They often answer that they are Buddhists in line with their actual lives.

When we say we have no religion, people abroad do not understand.

How do they translate non-religion in the first place?

That is a tricky question to answer.

Besides, in some countries abroad, people who do not believe in religion are considered dangerous.

Strangely enough, there may be some Japanese who become temporary Buddhists.

However, when asked about their religion, few Japanese would answer that they are followers of Shintoism.

In the first place, they may hear the English word 'Buddhist,' but the word 'Shintoist' does not readily come to mind.

Shinto is a religion unique to Japan and not found in other countries.

Buddhism is universal, and non-Buddhists understand what kind of religion it is.

However, Shinto is little understood.

If you are a foreigner who has been to Japan, you have probably seen shrines.

However, if they have not had that experience, they must have no idea what they are talking about when they hear the word Shinto.

If a foreigner is interested in hearing the name of the religion of Shinto, they are bound to ask what kind of religion Shinto is.

What kind of religion is Shinto?

We in Japan, who are asked, cannot give a good answer.

If this is Buddhism, we can say that there was a founder called Shakyamuni Buddha, whose teachings were transmitted, and Mahayana Buddhism eventually came to Japan.

Depending on the knowledge of the person explaining, the Japanese can answer about its content to some extent.

In the case of Shinto, however, there is no founder like Shakyamuni, to begin with.

We don't even know when it started.

When it comes to teachings, it does not immediately come to mind what the instructions are.

10)

If we can explain, it is limited to shrines.

What kind of space is a shrine?

There are religious people, called Shinto priests, who carry out rituals.

We can explain up to that point, but beyond that, it doesn't come up.

11)

When we try to explain what kind of religion Shinto is, we realize how difficult it is.

The inability to explain is not because the person lacks knowledge.

Compared to other religions, Shinto is difficult to explain.

It is a strange religion that people have no idea how to explain.

12)

Among the Japanese, some people reject the Shinto faith outright and never go to shrines or cross the torii gate.

For example, in the case of the Jodo Shinshu sect, which has the most significant number of followers in Japan, there is a belief that they do not worship anyone other than their principal deity, Amida Buddha, and the sect's founder, Shinran.

13)

Apart from these people, most Japanese go to shrines and worship there.

The number of people who choose a shrine for their New Year's visit is considerable.

When a baby is born, they go to a shrine for the shrine visit, and the same goes for the Shichi-Go-San celebrations for children.

14)

In this sense, Shinto beliefs are deeply embedded in the lives of the Japanese people.

Shinto is a tradition unique to the Japanese people and has a long history.

Not only is it old, but it has been handed down to the present day.

15)

In 2013, the annual Shikinen Sengu will be held at the Ise Jingu shrine.

Ise Jingu is divided into an inner and an outer shrine.

The buildings on the shrine's grounds, including its main hall, will be completely renewed.

Moreover, in the same year, 2013, the Izumo-Taisha shrine will also hold a Sengu.

The Ise Jingu Shrine's ceremonial relocation takes place every 20 years.

However, Izumo Taisha is the first in 60 years.

This one is not being wholly renewed; the roof is mainly changing off, but as it is the most significant shrine building in Japan, this work is a considerable undertaking.

16)

The fact that these relocation ceremonies are still taking place today means that Shinto beliefs are by no means a thing of the past and have been passed down well into modern times.

Once the Sengu is over, many people will visit Ise Jingu Shrine and Izumo Taisha Shrine.

17)

With such opportunities available, we may want to rethink what Shinto is about.

What are the characteristics of the Shinto religion, and what is its structure?

This is an excellent opportunity to check here.

18)

It is necessary to consider the Japanese relationship with Buddhism and Shinto, with which they have been deeply involved since ancient times.

In the first place, are we Buddhists or followers of Shintoism?

How we think about this is also a matter of considerable importance.

19)

How do we view Shintoism?

That is what I would like to consider.

By identifying the essence of Shinto and following its development process, I want to clarify how the Japanese people have been involved with Shinto.

This will probably lead to a consideration of the basic worldview of our Japanese people.

Shinto may be the key to understanding the Japanese people.

Ref)

What is Shinto? Finding Japanese Religion in Everyday Life

Shinto (also known as Shintoism) has long been widely recognized as a significant religious belief in Japan.

Although the Japanese are said to be less religious, Shinto is nevertheless deeply rooted in everyday life.

What is Shinto?

How did it initially emerge?

Where in Japan would you go to learn about it? Here we answer these questions about Shinto in Japan.

What is Shinto? (Origins and brief history)

Shinto is one of Japan's unique faiths.

Shinto's origins are unknown but are thought to date back to the Jomon period, approximately 16,500-3,000 years ago.

Shinto has no founder, unlike other religions, such as Christianity and Buddhism.

This indicates that the basic concepts of Shinto developed naturally through the unique lifestyle and beliefs of the ancient Japanese.

No central religious text is equivalent to the Christian Bible or Buddhist scriptures.

Shintoists believe God exists in everything that makes up the universe, including nature, such as forests, oceans, and mountains.

This religious belief is called animism.

Since ancient times, the Japanese have found the existence of gods in natural phenomena and have worshipped them as symbols embodying the presence of a divine deity.

Modern Shinto

Until the end of World War II, Shinto had a significant influence on many aspects of Japan.

Despite the separation of church and state, it was effectively treated as the state religion.

It was also a powerful symbol of spiritual unity throughout the country during the war.

Although Shinto has lost much of its influence compared to the past, this does not necessarily mean that people have lost respect for the gods of nature.

Elements of Shinto can easily be found in a variety of situations.

Customs based on Shinto still live in Japan, unconsciously or without concern.

Shinto Forms of Matsuri, festival worship throughout Japan, with the primary purpose of the four seasons to ensure a good harvest.

In spring, festivals pray for a good harvest, in summer for good health from typhoons and natural disasters, and in autumn for a bountiful harvest.

These festivals and celebrations, which people often look forward to in Japan, are long-standing Shinto traditions.

Other customs, such as New Year's decorations and Hatsumode, and annual events, such as Setsubun, Shichigosan, and Jichinsai, are also based on Shinto.

People do not claim to be religious, but it is common to bring amulets, lucky charms purchased at shrines, for protection and good luck.

As you can see, Shinto has long shaped Japanese culture and philosophy.

Its traditions are still alive today. 　

Shrines in Japan

Shrines are the centers of Shintoism, where Shinto deities are worshipped.

People believed everything around them embodied the Shinto gods and began to venerate sacred mountains, rocks, and waterfalls as deities.

Over time, people began to build buildings around them, which over time, became shrines.

The difference between a temple and a shrine can be easily identified by the presence or absence of a torii gate.

The torii gate is the entrance from the 'human world' to the sanctuary. There are many beautiful shrines in Japan with beautiful scenery.

The quickest way to better understand Shinto is to visit a shrine yourself. But don't forget to learn!

Izumo Taisha Shrine (Shimane Prefecture)

Izumo Taisha is one of the most important shrines in Japan, visited by around two million people every year.

It is said that every October, gods from all over Japan gather at this shrine to pray for the fulfillment of their love.

Around that time, traditional rituals were held, and many people came to pray for a matchmaking ceremony.

Ise Jingu (Mie Prefecture)

The Ise Jingu Shrine in Mie Prefecture has a history of over 2,000 years.

It is dedicated to Amaterasu, the sun god of ancient Japanese mythology.

Why does Shintoism have no teachings -No.1