It is known that Japan is one of the leading countries in the world in the field of science and technology, international politics and trade. But, despite the economic miracle that occurred in this state after the Second World War, its people still retained their unique identity. It is she who significantly distinguishes the Japanese from the rest of the world. Yes, their culture has borrowed a lot from other nations. But they successfully managed to adapt all the innovations to their traditions. However, the unchanged cultural basis of the Land of the Rising Sun still remains the primordial religion of the Japanese.
Folk beliefs
Despite the high development of information technology, for residents of Western countries, Japanese culture is still a mystery. This is especially true of ancient beliefs. If you ask what religion the Japanese profess, many will say that Buddhism. But this statement is not entirely correct, since this creed penetrated the islands from China only in the VI century. It was then that the first Buddhist monks began to come to these lands . They brought with them sacred books written in their own language. The following question arises: what kind of religion did the Japanese have before the advent of Buddhism?
Scientists have proved that initially each nation had its own beliefs, which implied a certain religious practice, not connected in any way with the church hierarchy. It was a series of actions and ideas that were based on superstition, prejudice, etc.
Ancient cults
In Japan, various living creatures have long been worshiped. One of the most common was the cult of the fox. Special temples were dedicated to the deity in the image of this animal with a human body and mind, which have survived to this day. There are still gathering people with the so-called fox nature. Falling into a trance to the sound of drums and the heart-rending howls of priests, they think that a sacred spirit is instilling in them, sending them the gift of visionaries who can predict the future.
In addition to the fox, the Japanese worship other living things, for example, snakes, turtles, dragonflies and even mollusks. Until recently, the wolf was considered the dominant animal. He was called the spirit of the Okami Mountains. Peasants usually asked him to protect the crops and themselves from various troubles and misfortunes, the fishermen - to send a tailwind, etc. But no matter what animal the ancient and modern islanders worship, these are just beliefs. We will try to understand this article about how the religion of the Japanese is actually called and what it is.
Shinto - The Way of the Gods
Admittedly by scientists, the ancient religion on the islands of Japan developed separately from the Chinese, and reliable sources of its occurrence have not yet been found. It is called Shinto, or the path of the gods. In truth, for most Japanese the origin and essence of this religion is not so important, for them it is both a tradition, history and life itself.
Shinto can be compared with ancient mythology, and the meaning and purpose of Shinto itself is to confirm the identity of the culture of Japan and the divine origin of its people. According to this religion, the emperor (Mikado) first appeared, who is a descendant of heavenly spirits, and then each of the Japanese - his offspring (kami). In this case, the object of worship is the ancestors, or rather, the souls of the deceased patrons of families.
Written sources
The main religious documents of Shintoism are two collections of myths - Nihongi and Kojiki, written by the court of the emperor after 712, as well as detailed instructions with ancient prayers and rituals - Engisiki. Historians believe that since these written sources appeared much later than the events in question, the original spiritual practices and Shinto beliefs may be somewhat distorted there. But be that as it may, it can be seen from them that the ancient Japanese, whose religion and traditions were concentrated mainly around their family and clan, as well as agricultural holidays, idolized life.
Shamans, who served as worshipers and spoke with believers on behalf of their ancestors (kami), were considered warriors who fought evil spirits. They called the gods, using Kagura - the sacred dances traditional for this religion, performed by young girls. It is safe to say that much of the traditional Japanese art, music and literature has its roots in the ancient shamanistic rituals of Shintoism.
Basic religious concepts
Very interesting is the view of the world, which the faithful Japanese managed to form. The Shinto religion is based on five basic concepts, and the first of them sounds like this: the world was not created by God - it arose on its own, and it is not just good, but perfect.
The second concept celebrates the power of life. According to Japanese mythology, the first sex occurred between the deities. That is why morality and physical intimacy between a man and a woman in the minds of the Japanese are not connected in any way. It follows that all that is natural must be respected, and all that is “not pure” must be condemned, but at the same time everything can be subjected to purification. Thanks to such beliefs, the Japanese are inclined to adapt almost any modernization, having refined and adjusted it according to their traditions.
The third Shinto concept is the unity of history and nature. This religion of the Japanese does not divide the world into living and nonliving, that is, lives in kami in a person, animal or any thing. This deity does not live in the other world, but lives with people, therefore, believers do not need to seek salvation somewhere else - it is constantly nearby, in everyday life.
The fourth concept is polytheism. Since Shinto is closely associated with tribal deities, he emerged from cults singing the nature of a particular area. Various sorcery and shamanistic rites only towards the 5th or 6th century began to gradually lead to a certain uniformity, and only then when the emperor decided to take control of the activities of all Shinto shrines. Then, a specially created department compiled a list of all Shinto gods, of whom there were no less than 3132! Over time, their number only increased.
National Religion of the Japanese
The last Shinto concept has a national psychological basis. According to her, the Kami gods did not create all the people, but only the Japanese, therefore, almost from the cradle, every inhabitant of the Land of the Rising Sun knows that he belongs to this religion. A similar teaching formed two patterns of behavior. On the one hand, the kami are only associated with the Japanese nation, so it will look ridiculous and ridiculous if any foreigner begins to practice Shinto. On the other hand, every Shinto believer can become a follower of any other religious doctrine at the same time.
Religious practice
It must be said right away that the life of Shintoists is quite diverse, although it revolves mainly around shrines. The designations of the sacred land are torii, which are large gates, reminiscent in shape of the Greek letter "P" with two horizontal shafts. Further, on the way to the main building of the sanctuary, specially prepared places will be located for washing the faithful.
Creating their ritual constructions, the Japanese, whose religion, as it turned out, are significantly different from other religions, divide them into several zones. Shintai (the embodiment of kami) are always placed in a place of honor. It can be a sword, any jewel or a mirror. It is worth noting that the Shintai itself is not an object of worship: believers pray to the deity living in this subject.
Purification ritual
Perhaps the most serious are the Japanese. Shinto religion, by tradition, requires great purity. For example, a woman who goes to worship before reaching the main sanctuary must stop to perform a ritual bath. After that, she burns incense or makes an offering by dropping a coin in a special box for donations.
Approaching the sanctuary, a woman should turn her face to the altar and, bowing her head, clap her hands twice, and then fold her hands in front of her face with her palms together. This ritual is intended to be called a kami, but it can also be performed at home. The fact is that in many Japanese houses there is a kami-dana - small family altars where they conduct a ritual of worshiping ancestors.
Religious celebrations
The main holiday of Shintoism is the annual Matsuri, which in some temples can be celebrated twice a year. This word embodies the concept of the entire ritual system, which includes not only the religion of the Japanese, but also their way of life. Usually, these festivities are associated with harvesting or the beginning of agricultural work, as well as with any memorable date related to the history of the sanctuary itself or the local deity.
I must say that the Japanese, whose religion is so democratic, love to organize magnificent festivities. Temple attendants notify everyone in advance of them without exception, so the Matsuri holidays always gather large crowds of people who take part in ceremonies and in numerous entertainments with pleasure. Some shrines even celebrate akin to colorful carnivals.