The Development Of Bushido And Zen Buddhism

The Development Of Bushido And Buddhism
There are many data proposed that Bushido has a close relationship with Buddhism, especially the Zen Buddhism. In this paper, I would like to discuss
about how the Zen Buddhism relate to the development of Bushido. And I will also mention the development of Bushido in Japanese history in this
paper. I will first give the background information of both Bushido and Zen Bushido, and then give the evidences and analysis. Finally I will make a
short conclusion of my paper. Bushido literally means "the way of warriors". Bushido is the ethic of the samurai class. According to Bellah (1985),
the samurai spirit are "loyalty and filial piety, obedience and righteousness, economy and diligence." (Bellah, 1985, P.98) And it presented the central
Japanese values, it was essential to keep the right (giri) still appear in the human society. It occupied an important status in the Tokugawa period in
Japan. The ideas of loyalty and filial piety probably came from the Confucian. It developed in Bushido as the loyalty to lord. Loyalty and filial piety are
closely related. "And a samurai who possesses this spirit ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The death meditation is come from Zen Buddhism. Samurai discovered that the meditation of self–forgetfulness of Zen Buddhism was useful for them,
since they had to face to death and horror in the battle. The concentration could led them be brave to fight with others. "... to lose the sense of self
was at the same time to lose the fear of death; to increase concentration could enhance archery and swordsmanship skills by disengaging the mind
from any inhibiting fear of failure of attempts consciously to control the body." (Religions of Asia, 1993, P.210) Samurai are like common human,
they would also feel painful, suffering. They can clear their mind before the battle through meditation. While they do well in the battle and not afraid
of death and failure, can also carry out the loyalty and service to their
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The Religions : Buddhism And Shinto
There are many aspects of this world such as culture, technology, or art that have been influenced by other things. The way that things influence each
other has allowed for new possibilities and ideals to be formed. Religion is no exception; there have been many instances where religions have
influenced each other and blossomed due to new ideas being presented. A good example of this the relationship between the two religions:Buddhism
and Shinto. Buddhism was brought into Japan during the early 6th century from Korea, and was later institutionalized as the state religion in the late
6th century by Prince ShЕЌtoku. The Prince was a great patron of Buddhism and by having made it the state religion, it would help Buddhism spread.
However, Japan was not without its own religion–Shinto–which had been there for many years prior to the arrival of Buddhism. With Buddhism
gaining traction in Japan with the help of Prince ShЕЌtoku, what then does it mean for the Shinto religion? However, Shinto was not long forgotten,
which leads to the question: how did the two religions, Buddhism and Shinto, interact with each other when Buddhism arrived in Japan? In this essay,
I will discuss how both Buddhism and Shinto were closely tied to each other in Japan, and how they would influence each other in different ways that
allowed them to grow into new directions. One of the first aspects of Shinto to look in regards to relations with Buddhism is the name itself; the
meaning of the name "Shinto"

When Asia Was the World Book Analysis Essay
Before this assignment I never knew anything about Asian history until I got to this class and received this assignment. I can't believe how much
Asian history influenced the way we as Americans look at history now. In Steward Gordon's When Asia Was The World, I found the story of
Xuanzang very interesting. Xuanzang was a Buddhist monk who traveled all over to learn more about Buddhism until he became confused and
decided to go to the center of Buddhism, along the way he faced many difficulties, he decided to go back to China and share what he had learned.
Buddhism began in India; it was founded by Siddhartha Gautama, a prince, born in Nepal. Siddhartha Gautama wandered around for awhile acting like
a beggar to figure out why it was that ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
He left his brother and took a long journey to Chang'an to learn more about Buddhism. He stopped at many different monasteries across China. He
felt like all the teachings were the same from his own monastery but their doctrines were different. Xuanzang felt confused by some of the things he
had learned. This caused him to travel west to bring back books from the center of Buddhism, which is India. Throughout his journey he faced many
hardships that would try to prevent him from what he was trying to do. His biggest hardship would be that he was making an illegal journey.
Xuangzang traveled by night with help by other Buddhist monks. He did eventually get caught; however he got caught by another Buddhist who
allowed him to continue on his journey. In the next fourteen years he became a teacher every place he went. He settled in a monastery located in the
eastern Ganges valley, during that time he studied and copied scriptures and listened to oral teachings. He stayed there for five years. He then
continued his journey and went elsewhere. Overall he traveled 15,000 miles within the areas of Buddhism. Xuangzang was asked by an emperor to
become a high official but he declined several times and would rather stay a Buddhist monk. Xuanzang then went back home to find out his brother
was still a practicing Buddhism. In Gordon's When Asia Was The World, "Xuanzang spent the rest of his life supervising a team of translators and

History Of The Jomon Civilization
Jomon Civilization The first known culture in japan was the Jomon civilization. The Jomon got there name from the rope pattern on the pottery that
was found in their living grounds;which consisted of pit dwellings and they obtained food by hunting, gathering, and fishing. The Jomon lived roughly
around 10,000 B.C.E. to 250 B.C.E. After the Jomon culture died off immigrants from china and korea began to arrive thus marking the start of the
Yayoi culture's birth. The Yayoi period lasted until 250 C.E. As more immigrants came into the culture tools made out of bronze and iron were brought
into the economy along with rice cultiavtion, which became the main product in Japanese farming economy. Buddhism Many religions were introduced

The Buddhist Temple of Chicago practices one of the most...
The Buddhist Temple of Chicago practices one of the most popular sects of Buddhism in Japan called Jodo Shinsu, also known as Pure Land
Buddhism (ShotЕЌ 1). Instead of stressing the Eight Fold Path, as traditional Theravada Buddhists do, Pure Land Buddhists chose to interpret the
teachings of the Buddha more freely (Wangu 1). Furthermore, Pure Land Buddhists seek guidance from Amitabha Buddha, a deity figure from
Mahayana Buddhism (Wangu 1). As the current ruler of the Western Paradise of Sahavaki, it is believed that when Amitabha Buddha was on the verge
of enlightenment, he made a vow claiming that if he attained Nirvana, he will help those who seek his name reach Nirvana as well (Wangu 1). Now,
devote Pure Land Buddhists proclaim ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The service began with the strike of a gong by Rev. Nakai followed by a brief moment of silent meditation. Afterwards, the Three Treasures, also
known as saranagamana, were recited. The three treasure state, "I go to the Buddha for guidance. I go to Dharma for guidance. I go to the Sangha
for guidance (budtempchi.org). Furthermore, these three treasures serve as a foundation of Buddhism (Irons 1). Although the Buddhist Temple of
Chicago is moving towards a more radical approach to Buddhism, the temple still uses some traditional traits of Buddhism. According to the
service book, the day I visited was Hatsu Mairi, which in Japanese means "first visit." On this day, the children of temple members are welcomed
to temple. So, the Dharma School children, aged from five to twelve, presented a game of Paramita Jeopardy. For myself and the rest of the
congregation, our skills of knowing the Six Paramitas were put to the test. Paramita, also known as a "perfection," include Donation, Morality,
Forbearance, Effort, Concentration, and Wisdom (Edwards 1). However the concept of the Paramitas may hold two different meanings in Buddhism.
In one sense they may be known as a "supreme." However in a more interpretive approach, a Paramita may signify "the other shore" where the
individual must leave the "shore of life" to reach to the "shore of Nirvana" (Edwards 1). The game was played for about fifteen minutes and ultimately
my team lost by

Social Effects Of Shintoism
Shintoism evolved out of folk religions, or cults which were developed from tradition and culture of a community. For example, one of the religion that
contributed to Shinto was Shugendo, where they focused their teachings on "pregnancy, childbirth, the location of lost articles, healing, the exorcism of
malevolent spirits, ancestral rites, and pilgrimages." (Jansen), emphasizing on external powers, especially spirits of a deceased person. Another religion
that was founded was Shingaku, the 'heart learning' religion. Shingaku was founded by Ishida Baigan, whom studied Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism,
and incorporated those ideas from each religion to form an ultimate school. Due to the fact that Shinto was based off of other folk religions ... Show
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During the eighteenth century, Buddhist temples had significant political power. The political and social classes are closely correlated with those of
religious ranks. The higher up one may be up in the hierarchy of social classes, it is more likely that that person is an important figure religiously, such
as a monk or monasteries. Likewise, "the temple's attestation was required for marriage, employment, change of residence, and travel permits" (Jansen),
therefore the Buddhist temple acted as a sort of government administration, according to emeritus professor of Japanese history at Princeton University,
Marius B. Jansen. Unlike the Yamatai–Koku, men became rulers in each kingdom that existed within Japan. The gender equality that was present in
ancient Japan had changed and had evolved into a male–dominant society. Although Buddhism had a great amount of political and social power in
Japan, it lost its religious followers due to the amount of political powers it attained after the Meiji Restoration in 1868, as religious ideas were less
significant in the socio–political system. Buddhism was veering off into more of a government than it was a religion to guide people away from
suffering. Due to these reasons, many began following a folk religion, Shintoism, "that pierced together ancestor worship, portents, directions, and
concern with a beneficent through capricious nature." (Jensen), unlike what Buddhism had become by the eighteenth

The Night Watches Of The Buddha
Question 2 Analyze the night Watches of the Buddha, and explain how the content was developed in the Mahayana Sutras. Mahayana Buddhism
is originated in the first century C.E. and focuses on "new concern for liberation through the assistance of a bodhisattva" (Voorst ). Also,
Mahayana Buddhism "requires a body of scripture, and so began the Mahayana Canon" (Voorst ). Mahayana Sutras is one of section of the
Mahayana Canon, which focuses on "the denial of the reality of existence and nonexistence" in philosophical discussion (VOORST ). In the content
of night Watches, it was developed in Mahayana Sutras and Night of Watches explains how Siddhartha Buddha reached Nirvana. This research
examines the Watches of the nights and analyzes how it is developed in the Mahayana Sutras. While the first watch of the night, Siddhartha
Gautama's mind was "supreme calm", clear and purified when the light was raised in him as well as knowledge and insight raised. He saw
"continuous series of all his former births" and even he saw more than hundred and thousands of his previous life (VOORST ). Therefore, he stated
that "there too I had such a name, belonged to such a clan, had such an appearance. Such was my food, such my experience of pleasure & pain, and
such the end of my life. Passing away from that state, I re–arose here" (Bhikkhu ). Thus he realized that he remembered his manifold past lives in their
modes and gained knowledge of the cycle of death and rebirth. After he experienced

Japanese Religions : Shinto And Buddhism In Japan
Numerous religions are popular within the Japanese culture. Two of the most powerful religions, Shinto and Buddhism, they are wealthy and
complicated, and it consists of many contradictory developments which may additionally puzzle a Westerner. Inside the center of the way of life is
Shinto, the "natural" faith of Japan. also in the center is Buddhism, the Indian faith that became added to Japan in the sixth century from Korea and
China. For the duration of the history of Japan, it's been these two religions that have contributed maximum to the Japanese know–how of themselves
and their surroundings, and to many important activities. Shinto and Buddhism that assist formed plenty of Japanese values are Shinto and Buddhism,
played a big role in shaping Japanese values. Various likenesses and contrasts keep running between these two religions; nonetheless, Japanese accepts
more than one religion at the same time. It is also possible due to the polytheistic nature of maximum popular religions in Japan. It is not difficult to
state that religion is a major piece of Japanese culture because a ton of religious convictions can in any case be found in their regular daily existences.
A brief of statement about Shinto, as an antiquated religion of Japan, Shinto was initially a mix of nature worship, divination strategies, and
shamanism. Shinto is a native religion of Japan and furthermore one of the most established religions on the planet, dated came back to 660 B.C. In
Shinto, regular

Comparing Buddhism In Ancient China And Japan
First, Comparing Buddhism in ancient China and Japan. Buddhism in ancient Japan was similar to Buddhism in China because, it was the Chinese
who introduced Buddhism to Japan in the first place and when the Chinese introduced this idea it "...became immensely popular, at least with the upper
classes." Another way that Buddhism in Japan was the same in China is because in Japan, when Buddhism was introduced it taught people to achieve
Buddhahood through the eightfold path, and in China when it was introduced between 1 and 100 AD it taught the teachings of Buddha which is
basically the same fundamentals with different names. Some examples of the teachings are the search for the truth of things such as what is your
motivation to do things and ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Ritual announcements by the emperor came to embody elements of both Shinto and Buddhism..." This shows how different Buddhism in Japan is to
Buddhism in China. Another reason why Buddhism and Shintoism get along so well is because the doctrines of the two religions complement each
other very well. The two religions complement each other is because at "...birth and marriage are Shinto, whereas funerals and communion with the
dead are within the purview of Buddhism." This shows how Buddhism in Japan connects with Shintoism and makes Buddhism in Japan much
different from Buddhism in China. Another example of Shintoism and Buddhism in Japan connect is "... the principal kami of Shinto came to be
regarded as Buddhist deities in different forms, and Shinto shrines were ever amalgamated with Buddhist temples." Next, let's see how Buddhism in
China is different from Buddhism in Japan. First, when Buddhism was introduced to the Chinese people from traders and merchants from India it
caused "... Some early devotees of Buddhism to regarded it as an exotic form of Taoism." In the later years of Buddhism in China a popular version of
Buddhism in China that strayed away from Buddhism that is practiced in India, has the concept of a bodhisattvas, who is a

Japan Religion Essay
All around the world, religion is a dominant idea for many cultures; exemplifying a certain way of life, serving as a basis for faith, and bringing
charity to the world, religion is a extensive concept. For several cultures and countries religion may vary according to demographics, socio–economical
class, and ethnicity. Main concepts of religion in Japan are natural and superstitious based. The leading religion in Japan remains Shinto, while other
religions have come and go, interweaving themselves among the Japanese society. For any Japanese person who may practice Shinto, another religion
that may dually be practiced is Buddhism. Are these religions common to one another in theory? Do they serve the same purposes? And what other...
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The first Nobel truth; Life means suffering.
"To live means to suffer, because the human nature is not perfect and neither is the world we live in. During our lifetime, we inevitably have to endure
physical suffering such as pain, sickness, injury, tiredness, old age, and eventually death. (The Big View). The second Noble Truth is that the origin of
suffering is attachment to worldly desires.
"The origin of suffering is attachment to transient things and the ignorance thereofВ… The reasons for suffering are desire, passion, ardour, pursue of
wealth, prestige, striving for fame and popularity" (The Big View).
The third Nobel Truth is the cessation of suffering is attainable.
"Extinguishing all forms of clinging and attachmentВ… Suffering can be overcome through human activity simply by removing the cause of
suffering" (The Big View).
The Fourth Noble Truth is to follow the Eightfold Path.
"A gradual self–improvement by following the way between the two extremes of excessive self–indulgence and excessive self–mortification"(The Big
View). Although the Four Nobel Truths are great concepts of Buddhism there are many other aspects that make up Buddhism. Daily practice of
meditation helps develop one's sense of awareness, to grow, and develops compassion and loving kindness (Buddhanet). Following the laws of Karma
and following right speech are also integral to Buddhism.
In the religion of Shinto, which was founded as Japan's

Comparing Shintoism And Buddhism
The main goal of any religion is to gain an idea of understanding and reasoning in one's life. Religion is a vast hole with endless conceptions
concerning the purpose for existence, as well as moral principles for how individuals should live their one life. Religion is sacred and vital in the
Japanese society. Japan is a remarkable country with endless temples and shrines for praying, donating, and ceremonies. Yet, the modern lifestyle and
urbanization in Japan continues to emerge. This realization had me contemplating the notion of how people can adjust towards contemporary ideals
and newly–found social orders, but continue to keep ancient beliefs and teachings like Buddhism. Buddhism arrived in the sixth century in Japan from
the Kingdom of Baekje in Korea, roughly 552 A.D. However, it began in India with Siddhartha Gautama. Siddhartha lived within a royal family and
was protected from the "real world" for most of his childhood until he witnessed the trials of sickness, aging, and death from a local monk. He
wanted to find a way to live his life with those trials, or somehow accept them. Siddhartha craved for a life of no pain and suffering, so he left his
comfortable home and strived to live towards Hindu teachings and nothing else. He desired to reach enlightenment and after meditating for ... Show
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Roughly 80% of the Japanese population practice either Shintoism or Buddhism, yet only a small percentage identify themselves to the religions.
Though many Japanese do not traditionally or actively commit to Buddhism, it is viewed as a communal and significant faith. This paper will focus
Buddhism reflecting towards the culture and community in Japan, even with contemporary futures filling in. Ultimately, there is a decline of
affiliation with Buddhism in Japan. To consider this decrease it is necessary to examine the use of traditions, individuality, and modernization, which
are clashing with one

The Decline Of Buddhism In Modern Japan By Gerald Cooke
Cooke, Gerald. "In Search of the Present State of Buddhism in Japan." Journal of the American Academy of Religion, vol. 42, no. 1, 1974, pp. 18–34.,
www.jstor.org/stable/1461525. Accessed Feb 20 2017. In his article Gerald Cooke examines the decline of Buddhism in modern Japan and the reasons
behind its decreasing appeal to newer generations. He discusses multiple perspectives on the decline of Buddhism that argue that Buddhism is declining
in popularity among young Japanese people due to various historical and socio–cultural reasons such as increasingly prevalent atheism, increasing
sectarianism, loss of official state support, and its continued basis in agrarian society despite increasing urbanisation. Fumihiko, Sueki. "Chinese
Buddhism

Buddhism Research Paper
Since the Chinese culture was the first to introduce the ways of Buddhism to the Japanese culture there are many similarities in their belief system. The
concept and affluent beliefs of Buddhism is evidently demonstrated in the arts of both the Chinese and Japanese culture. Both cultures demonstrate great
Buddhism influences within their arts, meanwhile they still keep up their own cultural identities. Similarities within cultures not so long after the
development of Buddhism did the missionaries from India begin to spread the religion into North China. Buddhism was introduced to China from India
along the Silk Road ads many Buddhist monks were on the path spreading the newfound knowledge of enlightenment. The Japanese culture has
adopted many ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Receiving this distant religion, China soon incorporated strong Chinese traits in its artistic expression.
With Buddhism, Japan's art began to flourish and Buddhism played an important role between the 6th and 16th centuries. Buddhism added more
meaning and diversity to the Japan art, however compared to China the art that was already well flourished and exuberate. In the Japanese culture,
Buddhist masters understood the art of enlightenment and saw it as an "expression of, and as a method or technique for, achieving enlightenment"
(Winfield).
We may see Buddhism as an endless religion which emerged from an early systematic, naturalistic setting to a huge coordinating, typical and verging on
conceptual arrangement of confusions from which thus there were subordinate examinations into what we call the Japanese Buddhist organizations. In
China all Buddhism inclined toward a manufactured variance which is both confused and entirely superfluous to disentangle

Essay on Shintoism and Buddhism
Shintoism and Buddhism
The Japanese religions, including Shintosim and Buddhism, are rich and complex, and it contains many condradictory trends which may puzzle a
Westerner. In the center of the tradition is Shinto, the "natural" religion of Japan. Also in the center is Buddhism, the Indian religion that was brought
to Japan in the sixth century from Korea and China. Throughout the history of Japan, it has been these two religions that have contributed most to the
Japanese understanding of themselves and their surroundings, and also to many important events.
Shinto, meaning "the way of the gods", is the indigenous faith of the Japanese people. It began around 2,500–3,000 years ago. It has thirteen sects, each
with a ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
These shrines are usually simple buildings surrounded by trees. Here is an example of one:
Before they would arrive at the shrines, the Shintoists would "purify" themselves by washing their hands and rinsing their mouth. They will bow
twice deeply, clap their hands twice, bow once more and then, they would offer gifts, such as food, to the Kami. Then, they say a short prayer. The
prayer usually urges the Kami to withhold bad weather. The people did not want bad weather, because it would destroy their crop. Shintoists also
pray for good fortune and to avoid evil spirits, especially before a special event, such as the opening of a business, a test or exam in school, or
something else that is important. They will then offer the Kami a choice offering if the crop is spared. But the Japanese do not fear the Kami.
The Buddhist rituals are performed by Shinto priests, private people who can marry and have children. There are even female priests. The priests are
supported by the Miko, young ladies in white kimonos. They must be unmarried, and are often the preist's daughters. Also, in contrast to the Western
religions, there are no absolutes, although there is a goddess, Amaterasu Omikami, the Sun goddess. An absolute is an object of worship that is always
present, such as a God. But, a certain kind of weather is not an absolute, because the weather can change at any moment.
Shinto is a very optimistic faith. It is thought by it's followers that all

Buddhism And Its Impact On Western Asia
Buddhism is one of the largest religions in the world with an estimated 500 million adherents located in all corners of the globe. Although Buddhism is
practiced all around the world, the majority of Buddhists are centered in the Eastern, Southern and Central parts of Asia. It was founded in India in
approximately 525 B.C. by Siddhartha Gautama. Although it was founded and first gained a foothold in India, Buddhism today is usually more
associated with East Asian countries such as Korea and Japan.
Given the diversity of the peoples of East Asia and their political systems, culture and language one might wonder what led to the expansion of
Buddhism over such a large geographical area. Buddhism began spreading quickly to Eastern Asia as a... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Release from this cycle is only achieved by attaining enlightenment, the ultimate goal for Buddhists. A Buddha is an all–knowing being who has
reached that perfect state of transcendence in which the concepts of humanities greed, hate and delusion are exterminated. Another key aspect is that
upon passing into nirvana, one is never subject to rebirth again. According to tradition, the founder of Buddhism was born in 563 B.C.E. Siddhartha
left his palace, renouncing his wealth and status, to find the cause of suffering. After years of searching, he found his answer and went on to teach
others. When he died, he attained nirvana, the release from earthly desires and suffering, and became the Buddha. The Buddha 's teachings were
written down by his followers who spread his message. These texts are called sutras. A religion began to form and new branches of Buddhism were
created.
The introduction of Buddhism to Korea impacted the culture and politics of the region immensely. It fundamentally changed the way in which people
interacted and how political actions was carried out. Buddhism was often used as a political tool by the ruling elites and the royal families. Before the
spread and integration of Buddhism, a very important religion for the Korea people was Shamanism. Buddhism absorbed the myths,

Impacts Of The Shikoku Pilgrimage
Shikoku Pilgrimage
Is the "Omairingu" project inspiring or ridiculous?
Introduction
The Shikoku Henro is a Buddhist Pilgrimage visiting eighty eight Buddhist Temples in Shikoku to commemorate one of the most famous Japanese
Buddhist Monks – KЕ«kai as known as KЕЌbЕЌ–Daishi. This pilgrimage is a training bringing both physical and spiritual benefits to pilgrims through
its intensive process. Nevertheless, due to the consequences of rapid modernization in Japan, cultural practices like Shikoku Henro are at threats of
erosion because of the increasing concentration of Japanese people on fulfilling material life rather than enriching spiritual experience. Facing
challenges of being eternally forgotten, Shikoku Pilgrimage needs a greater dynamic to continue preserving its quintessence. One of the possible
solutions that were already implemented is giving birth to the "Omairingu" manga, anime and cosplay pilgrimage in attempts to reintroduce this holy
practice in a more pop–cultural approach. However, the "Omairingu" concept is quite controversial among traditional pilgrims and pop–culture fans on
how much is too much to deliver sacred images. For this controversy, this research will examine the cultural and economic impacts of "Omairingu" on
the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Based on Robert Ellwood's (2008, 226) point of view as "In Japan, religion is something done, not just thought, seen, or believed. Its "doing" is by
means of specific objects or gestures that bear religious meanings, not thing else", using traditional equipments means preserving sacred meanings of
the pilgrimage. Any attempts to modify pilgrim's belongings may lead to an unexpected bias in the religious meanings. From these two perspectives,
what I believe that KЕ«kai would say is not critics but sincere and constructive suggestion bringing benefits to people from both

Similarities Between Shinto And Buddhism
Shinto and Buddhism are two different traditions that have flourished in Japan for hundreds of years. Generally, followers from one of the traditions
tend to follow the guidance of the other as well, which makes the relationship between Shinto and Buddhism very rare in world religions. At first, when
these two traditions contacted each other in ancient Japan, there was a lot of confusion, but eventually they were able to coexist. However, even though
Buddhism and Shinto share similarities regarding flexibility and independence, there are more differences between them proven by Buddhism's spread
to ancient Japan, their contrasting practices and beliefs and the different outlooks on the afterlife.
Primarily, a significant difference between ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
For instance, shrines, temples, and alters are very important in each religion because it allows the follower to connect with whatever deity they are
trying to worship, let it be the Buddha or the kami. However, another difference between Shinto and Buddhism are the practices. One practice that
sets the two apart is purification. Purification, such as Harai (the rinsing of hands and mouth before proceeding to a shrine), is a vital part of Shinto
because it rids away evil and unrighteousness. Outer self and inner self purification includes acts such as the observance of festivals throughout the
year or simply living before the kami in reverence and worship. Buddhism does not have purification or a different form of it. However, one thing that
Buddhism has that Shinto doesn't is images and sculptures of what it is being worshipped. Shinto does not have images or sculptures of the kami
unlike Buddhism which has them of the Buddha. Additionally, Buddhism does not have prayer like Shinto, but rather meditation. According to The
Essence of Shinto, to pray correctly in Shinto, "a yearning feeling for kami that flows from the bottom of your soul and reaches the end of the
universe" must be felt. Buddhism has equal love and respect for the Buddha as Shinto does for the kami, but the goals of the two traditions are
different which is why the forms of prayer and meditation contrast.

Similarities Between Middle China And Japan
Matt PeljovichMs. Priovolos World History, Period 6 17 February, 2017 The Interconnections of Middle China and Japan China and Japan are only
around 500 miles apart from each other and they had Korea to bridge them together. Because of this they have had many exchanges of culture. But
Japan is an archipelago so they could selectively borrow Chinese culture and not just be taken over by the Chinese. China saw themselves as the
exemplar for Asian civilization and therefore influenced many civilizations in the region. This allowed Middle China and Japan to become
interconnected. These interactions led these two civilizations to have many similarities, but also many differences. Middle China and Classical Japan
had many interconnections and... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The missions sent by Prince Shotoku also brought back Chinese influence in these subjects. In Middle China, landscape paintings were popularized.
Instead of depicting people, Chinese artist captured the raw beauty found in nature. When these missions brought back Chinese landscape paintings,
they spread across Japan. This led to the Japanese developing their own style of landscape paintings called Yamato–e. "The Yamato–e style was partly
native in inspiration and partly derived from one of the styles of decorative wall and scroll painting of T'ang dynasty China" (Britannica). This type of
painting often told stories and even included people, but it still captured the beauty of nature. The Japanese adopted Tang landscape painting and
adapted it to their culture. Architectural ideas were also brought back to Japan. The pagoda was a popular architectural style in China and therefore
was brought back to Japan. The Chinese pagoda is a tall, geometric tiered tower that were mainly used for aesthetic or religious purposes. Many
Buddhist temples were built as pagodas. After Shotoku's missions, pagodas were built in Japan. Because of Buddhism arriving in Japan from China,
many Buddhist temples were built as pagodas including the Horyu temple. Because the Japanese followed both Buddhism and Shinto, the pagodas
contained both Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines. Also while

The Importance Of Religion In The Canterbury Tales
Geoffrey Chaucer is known as the "Father of English Poetry" because of his book The Canterbury Tales (Chaucer & Canterbury Tales Notes taken in
Mr. Dye's Advanced English 12 class). The Canterbury Tales comes from the Canterbury Pilgrimage, which was a significant part of Christian faith.
Pilgrimages helped spread religion and help the pilgrims advance in their spiritually. The main difference between a pilgrimage and a vacation is that
pilgrimages are uncomfortable in some way and pursue spiritual or religious growth. The Canterbury Cathedral was a Christian architecture in Kent,
England, where pilgrims could gather and worship God. However, in 1067, a fire incinerated the cathedral and repaired later under Lanfranc's
supervision (Canterbury Cathedral). The Danes invaded and had set nearby cottages on fire, right outside of the Monastery (The Cathedral's Great
Fire). The embers went undetected, and by the time the villagers noticed something was wrong, the interior of the cathedral was in flames. However,
in 1675, the Canterbury Cathedral was being rebuilt and took a total of 35 years to complete.
To begin, I am not a religious person. However, I do believe in spirituality. Therefore, I will begin my spiritual pilgrimage on the island ofShikoku,
Japan. KЕ«kai, a Japanese Buddhist monk, hiked along the island of Shikoku and founded many of the temples (Shikoku Henro Trail). Through
KЕ«kai, the pilgrimage established. The Shikoku Pilgrimage consists of eighty–eight temples and

Buddhism And Japan Outline Essay
Japan Outline 1
I.Background information
1. Four main islands and other smaller ones with some inhabited
2. Two major distinct populations
3. Culturally Homogenous
4. Regional differences in dialect, food, customs due to difficulty in travel and communication
5. Immigration from eastern Asia
6. Contact with eastern Asia, sea causes isolation from the other countries
II.Japan before Buddhism
A. Jomon Period (ca. 10,500–300 B.C.) i. Pottery before Farming 1. Jomons were hunter–gatherers, earliest distinctive culture 2. Jomon–decorations
marking many earthenware vessels 3. Pit dwellings allowed for settlement, a break from nomadic lifestyle 4. Ceramic technology developed before
agriculture 5. Ceramic shards oldest ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Haniwa–statues placed around in curving rows and on pit grave mounds, clay circle as a spiritual barrier, whimsical design on cylinder figure 2. Shapes
from abstract, animals, and humans 3. Emblazoned with ornaments, depth in the form, painted iv. Amaterasu's ancient shrine 1. Amaterasu is a sun
goddess
2. Ise shrine inspired by design of early granaries in which were important during the early agrarian times, three main structures design dating to before
introduction of Buddhism
3. Mortise–and–tenon system in which the wallboards are fitted into slots in the pillars, two freestanding posts at each end that support weight of the
ridgepole or the beam of the roof's crest 4. Columns are of cypress trees, golden color to contrast with white gravel
5. Thatched roof browned by smoking process, layers that gradually decrease from eaves to ridgepole, smoothed the surface
6. Chigi–crosspieces at gables and wooden weights placed at right angles across from the ridgepole as decorative elements with structural functions
7. Expression of purity and dignity as emphasized by simplicity and precision
III.Buddhist Japan
A. Asuka (552–645), Hakuho (645–710), and Nara (710–794) Periods i. Asuka Japan and

Similarities Between Shintoism And Buddhism
In Japan, there are many different religions, some may not be as significant as others, but they are existing there. Some of these religions include
Shintoism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Christianity, etc.. but I have narrowed it down to the two most prominent religions in the nation of Japan:
Shintoism and Buddhism. In this research paper, I am going to describe these two religions more in depth, such as the beliefs, the differences, the
similarities, how these religions act toward another (Contradict or compliment each other) and I will even show you how these religions has changed
Japan in the last 50 years.
One of the major religions that have existed in Japan is Shintoism, this religion pretty much as old as Japan itself. Shintoism was started in Japan, the
beliefs in Shintoism include focusing on ritual practices that are carried out diligently to establish a connection between present–day Japan and its past.
Shintoists believe in Kami, or gods, examples of Kami include but are not limited to Amaterasu, goddess of the sun, Fujin, god of the wind, among the
oldest of Shinto gods, Hachiman, Shinto god of ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Shintoism and Buddhism are the same because they both had left a large unforgettable mark in the history of Japan. Another similarity is that both of
these religions originated in the same continent. Two differences between Shintoism and Buddhism are that Shintoism is all about the human spirit
/soul, and buddhism is more concerned with the body and mind. Another difference is that Shintoists believe in many kami, or gods, while in contrast,
buddhists believe in certain deities. In conclusion, as you can see, these two religions seem like they can compliment each other, right? Well they can,
and they do, even though their origins are different from each other, it is possible to incorporate both of these religions into

Religion In Japan
Our group separated the research on Japan into sections of history, current Religious Education (RE) in schools, demographics, and government/current
policies. There were two main religions that surrounded Japan: Shinto and Buddhism. In addition, two other religions, Confucianism and Christianity,
also contributed a considerate amount to the RE in Japan. The four major time periods involving RE in the history of Japan were Pre–Meiji, Meiji
Restoration Period, wartime era, and post–WWII (Inoue 115). There were religious tensions during the Tokugawa shogunate era that which have led up
to the establishments of RE in Japan for RE did not come into place in Japan until the late 19th centuries until the shogunate gave way to the Meiji
Restoration, ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Shinto is the belief of kami, spirits, deities that exist as things in nature, such as trees or streams, watching over the humans on Earth. To the Japanese,
Shinto was not particularly a religion but something that is part of their lives, like "another part of the natural world, albeit a part of enormous power"
(BBC: History 1). So, in a sense, religion actually came into Japan in the 6th century, when Buddhism, founded by Prince Shotoku (571–622), was
transmitted to Japan from China (Web Japan 2). After the birth of Buddhism into Japan, "Shinto faiths and traditions took on Buddhist elements, and
later, Confucian ones" (BBC: History 1). The Emperor Shomu (701–756) adopted Buddhism as the official state religion and build a huge statute of
Buddha to commemorate this occasion. Even still, the coexistence of Buddhism and Shinto continued (Web Japan 2). Since Buddhism and Shinto were
the main beliefs in Japan, during the time in the 16th century, religious tensions with Christianity grew when Christian missionaries tried to convert
many of the Japanese (BBC: History 2). Due to such actions of forced conversions, Christianity was seen as a threat in Japan and in which made
Buddhism and Shinto the dominant religions in the 17th century "partly because an anti–Christian measure forced every Japanese person to register at
a Buddhist temple and to pay for the privilege of being a Buddhist" (BBC: History

Buddhism And Buddhism In Japan
Since people were born in Japan, they have always lived with goods and events related to Buddhism, but they have not realized the existence of
them. Regarding the worldwide view, there are many customs, rituals, foods, and culture all over the world. Japan also has religion, but some people
say that Japan has no clear religion when they argue about that. However, is it true? In fact, Buddhism has close relationships with Japanese lives.
There are three reasons why Japanese people are religious are rooted in Buddhism.
Some people say that Buddhism has no relationships in Japanese lives today, but actually, there are many high points related to Buddhism andShinto.
Japan has two major regions, Shinto and Buddhism. Shinto has a longer history than Buddhism, while Buddhism was imported from the Asian
continent to Japan in the 6th century. Shinto is believed to have developed from animism. Animism is a belief that everything in nature has a particular
figure and spirit. Shinto is said to ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Shinto shrines are places of worship. Japanese people visit there to feel respect for the god or praying for good fortune. Torii and komainu, the
equipment of shrines, have meanings related to Buddhism and Shinto. It is also important to know how to visit temples and shrines. When Japanese
visit a temple, they should behave calmly and respectfully. It is essential to show their respect to pray in front of the sacred object. When entering
temple buildings, they may be demanded to take off their shoes because the owners of the buildings think the buildings are sanctuary places. How to
visit shrines is almost same as how to visit temples. However, that there is a purification fountain in the shrine differs from the temple. When Japanese
pass the entrance of the shrine, they may fill the water with their hands and cleanse their hands both. They are not permitted to swallow the water from
the purification fountain

Religion In Medieval Japan
Introduction:
Religion in medieval Japan is what i will be talking about and the subjects I will be covering are worship customs, beliefs and influences.
Beliefs
Shintoism:
Shinto's followers believe that spiritual powers exist in the natural world. They believe that spirits called kami live in animals, plants, stones, mountains,
rivers, people and also the dead. so basically kami the spirits can live in anything in the natural world.
Christianity:
Christians believe in one god a god that lives in the heavens with all the good people. Christians believe that man and women were made to have a
relationship with god, but bad choices that humans make, called sin separates all men and woman from god. and Christians also believe and listen to
god when u die u will go to heaven with him were u will feel no pain forever. Zen Buddhism:
Buddhism in Japan has appeared into a rich tradition with lots of particular schools and ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Worshipping all creation as parts of a better being became an basic effect for Japan as it independently began the idea of polytheisticreligion in that
individual society. The belief in Shintoism came little and so the religion formed itself through readings, storytelling and myths, the country formed its
own characteristics and qualities to it as well.
Zen Buddhism:
Buddhism originated in Indian the religion traveled to Japan through China and Korea in the 6th century, about 90 million people consider themselves
buddhists.
Funeral are normally done the Buddhist way and many houses hold small alter as a sign of respect for their ancestors.
Christianity:
Even though there weren't a lot of Christian believers in japan it was very influential in the modern development of Japan in the late 1800s. Many
student both men and women went to Christian schools and through there continued to study in Europe and the United States.
Worship

Essay on Buddhism in Japan
"Buddhism has the characteristics of what would be expected in a cosmic religion for the future; it transcends a personal God, avoids dogmas and
theology; it covers both the natural and spiritual, and it is based on a religious sense aspiring from the experience of all things, natural and spiritual, as
a meaningful unity." Albert Einstein (Buddhism)
Buddhism has affected many people. From the Buddha's first followers to my next door neighbor, people everywhere have followed the teachings of
Buddhism. Buddhism was started by a Prince; a prince who wanted more. Many different ways of showing appreciation to Buddha are present in
today's society as well as when Buddhism was first started. There are paintings, carvings, statues and ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
One was an elderly man, another was a man suffering from illness, and finally he saw a dead body surrounded by mourners. Since he had never
seen anything like this before, he asked his charioteer what these things were. He responded to the Prince that these things were natural and
unavoidable, and happened to everyone. Once again Siddhartha asked his charioteer to take him out into the city; this time he was to see the last of
four images that would change his life forever. The last sight he saw was a wandering old holy man with no possessions. His head was completely
shaved and he was wearing a yellow robe. Having seen all these things, Buddha not only became aware of the pain and suffering of humankind, but
was also prompted to do something about it. He left his family in search of the answers to his questions (Buddhism).
Siddhathra traveled throughout the northeastern portion of India, seeking out holy men and teachers who taught him ancient Indian techniques of
meditation. Even though meditation was important to him, his main quest was to find the answer to the problem of suffering. He wanted to know
why they were suffering and how it could stop. So Siddhartha studied the teachings of Hinduism. He was very fascinated by the belief of
reincarnation or Samsara. (This was the belief of the soul, after death, would travel to a new body and be born again.) Depending on the person's
previous life, their soul could enter a body of a higher or lower state of

Art And Religion Research Paper
Religion is a cultural phenomenon of the development of human society to a certain historical stage, belongs to the social ideology. The main feature is
that there is a supernatural power or entity in the real world. Religious can be divided into: Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism,
Catholicism, Sikhism, and other religions. A religious belief system and social groups is an important part of social culture and human thought–form.
Religion has a close relationship with the human life in all areas, and art is one important area. The creation of beauty and beauty appreciation of
human activities, indeed are similar to the essence of religion. The reason that art influenced by religion, embodied that religion using art to publicize
and disseminate their own, and provide the content and the theme of religion and development required by art.
The relationship between art and religion has different contents in different periods of history. Art and religious express human spiritual activities in
their own ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The introduction of Buddhism and Buddhism prevailed, greatly promoted China sculpture, architecture, development of the art of painting. And the
world of ancient architectures has a considerable part are temples. Such as the Mahabodhi temple in India, and the Great Goose Pagoda influenced by it
are both multi–story pagoda. The existing two seat of the Tang Dynasty. The earliest ancient Buddhist temple palace existing since the Tang Dynasty,
are named Nanchan temple and Foguang temple. China has a large population, and the development of Buddhism in China to Vietnam, Japan, South
Korea extended form the entire East Asian Buddhist cultural circle. Different countries accept Buddhism in different ways will form a different
understanding. At the same time they combine their own culture while absorb Buddhism. Architecture is the embodiment of religion, in the form of
artistic

Japanese Buddhism
Finally, an additional vital feature of Japanese Buddhism is the act of ridding away from the Self. Individualism and self–identity is the only thing
people have to not be categorized into their cultures. Of course, in Buddhism, the way to end one's suffering is by being detached from the Self. The
concept is a stage to reach ultimate consciousness in Buddhism, nevertheless one could wonder how determined the Japanese population is because of
the percentage that do not in actuality, identify with Buddhism. In the book, Inner Peace, World Peace: Essays on Buddhism and Nonviolence, Sulak
Sivaraksa's chapter, "Buddhism and Contemporary International Trends," discusses the fact, "one of the largest obstacles to the implementation of
religious principles ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
People should be able to converse their beliefs freely, although I do not think it is necessary to discuss it if merely the reason discussing religion is to
"normalize" or make it known for others. That should not be the purpose of any religion. Religion is a personal choice and one's own faith in a higher
power–whatever it may be. Or even believing in no form of higher power. Stephen G. Covell and Mark Rowe give their perspective on the reason for a
loose commitment with Japanese Buddhism in modern societies in their article, by affirming, "tradition has kept the study of contemporary Buddhist
practice largely off the map of religious studies discourse on Japan... twentieth–century Japanese religion has 'yielded to the new' in its focus on the
so–called 'new religions.' Not only has this meant the almost total neglect of traditional Buddhist sects, but it also fails to consider the more
fundamental question of how and why 'new religions' must be differentiated from Buddhism... With the focus on earlier historical periods of Japanese
religions, it has contributed to the idea that Buddhist practices are better understood as examples of Japanese 'folk' traditions and has there served to
reinforce the perception of contemporary Buddhist activity as a compromise of originally pure doctrine" (246–7). Covell

The Four Noble Truth: The Founder Of Buddhism
The founder of Buddhism is Shakyamuni Buddha. Buddhism is a set of practices, and the goal is to enlighten yourself so that you no longer suffer
because you are awaken. Also known as "The Path of Truth". Buddhism spread throughout Asia, impacting several different countries. The religion
Buddhism was first practiced in India. The founder of Buddhism lived from 563 to 483 BCE. Although Buddha was born into a great life, he left this
lifestyle for six years to mediate due to the troublesome of human beings. Only to come back awaken with the Four Noble Truths. The Four Noble
truths were brought to help others overcome what "Buddha believed to be the source of all human Suffering" (Sayre 114). After six years of
meditating he presented the Four Noble Truth. First, life is suffering. Second, the suffering has a cause, which is ignorance. Third,... Show more content
on Helpwriting.net ...
"From the very beginning, the establishment of Buddhism depended on the protection and support of the Japanese rulers" (Buddhist studies). Shinto
was discovered in Japan however before Buddhism was even thought to be established. Due to Shinto being more exposed in Japan and most
adaptive, people did not fully follow all the rules of Buddhism but eventually both were introduced and followed equally. Buddhism has been
discovered and is believed that Buddhism first arrived from the Yamato period. This period of Japanese history is when the Japanese imperial court
was ruled from the modern day Nara Prefecture. In 552 CE, the king of the Baekje region of Korea decided to give Japan the statute of Buddha and a
sacred Buddhist texts collection according to the Chronicles of Japan. Japanese Buddhism was derived majorly from Chinese Buddhism because of the
indigenous beliefs that were shown in the Chinese culture and dedication to Buddhism. Japan's Buddhism is "the main idea to live within the thing
itself and thus to understand it" (Suzuki

How Did Buddhism Influence The Development Of Japanese...
Empire Building through Religion Embracing our own mortality can be a very scary concept for us. People might often wonder what the point of
living is if all they will ever do is live, breath, wither and eventually die. Perhaps this inability to fight the cycle of life is why so many seek to
establish a lasting legacy that will not be forgotten anytime soon. It is because of this scary concept of not knowing what happens after death that
religions such as Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism among others, spread so quickly and appealed to the masses. All of these religions
offered a form of afterlife. They offered a way of understanding the metaphysical aspects of death. The Japanese people had no clear meaning of an
afterlife. While ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
What this meant was that Buddhism became intertwined with everyday government as well as Confucian values. During the Nara period, a single
clan, inspired by the Chinese Tang Dynasty, claimed "imperial authority and introduced a series of reforms designed to centralize Japanese politics"
(Bentley and Ziegler 300). These reforms included modeling the imperial court after the Tang dynasty with a Chinese style bureaucracy, diving land
equally among the people and providing support for Confucianism and Buddhism (Bentley and Ziegler 300). Prince Shotoku, perhaps the most
well–known emperor of early Japanese history, studied Chinese philosophy and became very well versed in Confucianism and Buddhism. He later
used that knowledge to write the Seventeen–Article Constitution where he outlined 17 specific laws or principles applied by him to a nation–wide
behavior (Shotoku's Seventeen–Article Constitution–Jushichijo Kenpo 271). As temples and monasteries continued to appear across Japan, they
became directly involved with government affairs as more state officials became devout Buddhists. What this meant was that the monasteries started
accumulating wealth, land and power. In 8th century CE, Empress Shotoku, not to be confused with prince Shotoku, proclaimed two edicts regarding
Buddhism in Japanese government (State Sponsorship and

The Effects Of Shinto Religion On Japan
In an article written by Christian Centuries in 2016. In this article, the writer goes over the love the prime minister has for the Ise Grand Shrine, which
is the most sacred place in Japan. The writer also starts off the article stating that the prime minister's commitment to the Shinto religion, it led him to
become more of a Liberal–Democrat and his teachings and ruling went off of the Democrat ways to purse the wide–range of Shinto religion policies.
The article goes on to explain the effects that the Shinto religion has had on Japan. The religion was not thought of as much as it was back in the
prewar days. The religion prays to the God "Kami", which means spirits in both living and inanimate objects. Along came the 19th century and Japan

Confucius And The Chinese Sage
1. "Confucius said, 'The gentleman understands integrity; the petty person knows about profit.'" (18)
Confucius' high emphasis on morality instead of profit was one of his major political ideals that he tried to persuade the the rulers of the kingdoms to
pursue. However, his failure to convince any of those rulers reflected the prevalent pragmatic political culture at that period. After all, the kingdoms
were at war with each other so that Confucius' idea was inevitably less popular than those battle–winning strategies in favor of "profit."
Nevertheless, hundreds of years later, when China became a large unified country, its emperor started to promote Confucius's ideas nationwide and
even integrated them into з§‘дёѕ to select government officials, who were all supposed to master ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
"We learn that a sage recognizes a sage, whereas an ordinary man cannot recognize a sage. The ordinary man sees nothing but the outer form of a
beggar, while the sage has a penetrating eye able to recognize the hidden essence." (77)
In ancient East Asian countries, sages were a group of people respected by educated people and revered by the common illiterate mass. According to
the text, the sages were those who with acute eyes that penetrate to the essence. This statement emphasizes the distinction between the sages and
ordinary people. Although the text only shows one characteristic of the sages, sages were indeed special for the Chinese society and the Confucianism.
For the ancient dynasties of China and Japan that influenced by Confucianism, sages were often focusing on developing their thoughts and were not
directly involved in politics. Although the government officials studied Confucianism when they were student, oftentimes they were not considered as
sages probably because they did not possess the characteristics of the sages and did not develop their own Confucianism theories. The sages' influence
mainly came from their scholarly work and their teaching passed on by their

Spread Of Monarchies Essay
Thousands of years ago, with the expansion of monarchies came the spread of numerous ideas specifically, religion. The culture and daily lives of
those living within an empire was based on their faith. At its core, religion was a way to teach people how they should implement their lives, and it
was a key part of unifying such large empires. The spread of a religion created countless impacts, with lasting effects on monarchies, that are
demonstrated in modern society today. Some of these influences were negative, however they all caused impacts on all aspects of the areas they
expanded in. The expansion of Buddhism in Japan and the spread of Christianity in the Americas, demonstrates how the spread of religion results in
civic, governmental, and financial repercussions. Between 600 CE and 1700 CE, these monarchs were having impactful changes due to the expansion
of a religion. Positive and negative social, political, and economic impacts were created as a result of the expansion of ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Religion was an idea in which it initiated change in the lives and countries of those who accepted it. It was a unifying agent that created many
positive impacts on monarchies, however some negatives The expansion of Buddhism in Japan and the spread of Christianity in the Americas
furthermore proves how impactful the spread on a religion can be. In both countries, monarchs benefited from the expansion of a particular faith, in
all aspects. The political, social, and economical side was changed with the spread of a religion, and is demonstrated in society today, as Japan is a
leading country Buddhists. Positive and negative social, political, and economic impacts were created due to the growth of Buddhism in Japan on the
Japanese Monarchy and the spread of Christianity in the Americas on the Spanish monarchy as each created a change in the empire it

The Religious Significance Of Buddhism In Kumano Kodo In...
Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and many diverse religions are worshipped by people all around the globe. One of the common types of
religious practice is known as a pilgrimage, which is a pure representation of devotion to the religion in motion (textbook). A pilgrimage is a sacred
journey or travelling to a holy site for the purpose of obtaining enlightenment, proving fidelity, and potentially witnessing or experiencing a holy
miracle. Generally, a shrine or location of religious significance is the destination of a holy journey. These sites are typically located in a transitional
area between the natural and supernatural zones, such as mountaintops like the snow–capped volcanic cone of Mountain Fuji in Japan where it seems
to be... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The town of Koyasan, the starting location of Kumano Kodo pilgrimage, was once a women–only pilgrimage route. Today, it is a popular monastic
place that Priest Kukai, the founder of Esoteric Buddhism, established 12 centuries ago. It has a university for religious studies. This signifies how
religiously significant this town or location is as it holds spiritual meaning and has dedicated religious school. Also, the largest cemetery in Japan could
be found in Koyasan which is located in Okuno–in. There are over 200,000 tombstones with a row of statues known as mizumuke Jizo – Japanese
deity who reduces people's suffering– where an individual can pray for departed family members. The grounds are lit with multiples of lanterns
symbolizing the spirits of the dead. This sanctuary highly contributes to the significance of spirits and after–life since it is exclusively associated with
death. In the dawn, there are the sutra chanting and goma fire ritual, where people could write their wishes on a wooden stick known as goma–gi. The
monks then burn them to portray the burning of the source of people's suffering by Buddha. This is a significant ritual in an anthropological aspect,
allowing people to participate in religious acts during the course of a

China And Jap Spirituality, Belief And Faith Are Personal
Study of Religion in China and Japan Spirituality, belief and faith are personal. This statement means that an individual takes his own path on religion.
Religion is a system of worship that connects human behaviors, practices, organizations, ethics, texts and world views to the supernatural world.
Religion is widespread and diverse in various ways. The contents of one religion may not be similar to those of other religions. The differences may be
identified through the supernatural being, faith, sacred items, norms as well as the divine. However, similarities may be identified through narratives,
stories, and histories that are recorded in scriptures, sculptures as well as sacred places. There exist numerous distinct religions ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Embracing these changes led to criticism of traditional religious practices. The history of religion in China does not shown any evidence of politically
inclined religious movements since the Boxer rebellion, 1900, and the Taping Rebellion that occurred in 1850–1864(Yang, 2008). ImperialChina was
dominated by sacrificial rituals as well as religious and moral disclosure. Daoism, Buddhism, Islam, and sectarian religions are part of the various
religions practiced in the country. However, the groups were considered weak in practice as compared to those in Europe. In the cultural setting,
religion played an important political role. It was a legitimate device used in protests and as a channel that the different classes can air their suffering.
However, community rituals during the era were seen as superstitious and pointless. The role of religion was not appreciated in the society. Some of the
roles include maintaining autonomy, integrating communities, and forging local authorities. Buddhism captured the interconnections of all living
beings similar to the Chinese geomancy and Daoism. These religious practices were lost after the Chinese indulged in industrial production. Other
aspects that were lost are immortality, ritual cultivation procedures of the body, health practices, and

Chinese Influence On Japan
Throughout time, Japan became home to many different cultures, the oldest believed to stretch back to around 30,000 years.One of the strongest
influences of these cultures was Chinese. The earliest records of Japan are dated back to around 400 CE, and were written by Chinese visitors.
Although Japan was separated from the rest of East Asia it still maintained contact with Korea and China. This subjected it to foreign influence,
especially that of the Han (221–207 BC) and later Chinese dynasties. In 593, Shotoku, a Buddhist Prince, emerged in Japan. His rule contributed
greatly to the adoption of "foreign" cultures in Japan. In 709 CE, a new capital city, Nara, was built in Japan. Nara was almost an exact replica of the
Tang dynasty capital. However, in the late 700s, Heian Japan Era... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Although they borrowed heavily from China, they ended up with a system that contained little connection to the Chinese . In 369 AD, Japan invaded
South Korea in an attempt to maintain the political balance of power. One of the most important things that happened during this time was the
introduction of the Chinese writing system into Japanese culture. Korea itself was largely subjected to Chinese culture, and it was through Korea that
Chinese writing entered Japanese culture. Many Chinese characters, and even whole words, were incorporated into the "Japanese" writing system.
However, during Heian Japan, the writing system changed. Japan began to change its writing from Chinese to better suit the Japanese language,
however much of the Japanese literature in this period was still written in Chinese. Men especially continued to use the Chinese writing particularly for
official business. However the new language did become popular for poetry, diaries, novels, and was used mostly by women. In this way, although
Japan did adopt the writing system from china they ended up with something that was unique to their own

Buddhism In Japan
In Japan, Buddhist temples are places for paying reverence to objects of spiritual worship as well as other religious activities and observances.
Buddhist temple composites originated in India, where the main structures were quarters known as vihara, where monks engaged in religious training.
There were also chaitya halls for worshiping Buddhist images, and rounded stupas said to enshrine bits of bone (sarira, or shari in Japanese) from the
historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama. Buddhist temples in Japan developed a unique individuality after incorporating influences from China and
Korea. During the Asuka and Nara periods, many temples had a design following the Shitennoji model, centering around a tower–like pagoda. This was
for the worship of ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The halls that housed Buddhist images gradually took a central position and pagodas were given the "decorative structures" role, like in the Yakushiji
and Todaiji Temples in Nara. The forms of temple compounds became more diverse with the spread of "esotericBuddhism" (mikkyo) in the Heian
period as well as the spread of the raigo concept. The appearance of Amida Halls with attached gardens in a single compound, inspired by the desire
to produce replicas of Amida's "Western Paradise of the Pure Land", had surfaced. The Phoenix Hall (Hoodo) of the Byodoin south of Kyoto is the
most famous structure of this type. New temple styles were adopted from the Asian continent due to the popularity of Zen in the Muromachi period.
Numerous imposing Zen compounds were also constructed at this time. While large cultural centers like Kyoto have several thousands of temples,
virtually every Japanese municipality has at least one temple. Buddhist objects are stored and displayed at temples. Some temples were formerly
monasteries, and some still function as such. Structures typically found at Japanese temples are:
Main

Differences Of Shinto And Buddhism In Japan
Japan has many religions but Shinto and Buddhism are Japan's two major religions. Shinto is the oldest religion in Japan and Buddhism was imported
from the mainland in the 6th century. Since then, the two religions have been co–existing relatively and harmoniously. It is common for one person or
family to believe in several Shinto gods and at the same time belongs to Buddhism. Most Japanese consider themselves as a Buddhist, Shintoist or
both. Today, religion does not play as vital role in the everyday life of most Japanese people. Children in Japan usually does not receive any formal
religious training.
Shinto is a polytheistic religion because it has many gods. Shinto or the English word, ''the way of gods' does not have any founder nor does it have
sacred scriptures like the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Mostly western and traditional way. Traditionally, the religious wedding ceremony will be held in Shinto style at a shrine and the couple is dressed in
traditional kimono. A Shinto priest conducts the ceremony, which is only visited by the close family members of the couple. During the ceremony, the
couple is purified, drinks sake (alcohol), and the groom reads the word of commitment. At the end of the ceremony, symbolic offerings are given to the
kami. Recently, the number of Japanese couples who hold their wedding ceremony outside of Japan has also increase. The reason is, because they want
to combine the honeymoon with the ceremony to minimize the amount of cost for the

Comparing The Dunhuang Caves Of China And Japan
Throughout history, Japanese architecture has often been compared to that of Chinese architecture due to the dominant influence of techniques and
styles that originated in China, but are illustrated throughout the art of Japan. Although the similarities between designs are fundamentally alike, there
are apparent differences between the two. The Japanese incorporated things like lifestyle differences, climate changes, and construction materials.
Religion, primarily Buddhism, was a key component considered while designing the architectural structures that inhabited both China and Japan. This in
turn ultimately impacted other corresponding aspects of each culture. A comparison of The Dunhuang Caves of China and the Temple of Todai
–ji of
Japan, ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Buddhism grew quickly to be associated with the Imperial Court connecting that of sacred and secular power for the future centuries of Japanese ruling.
During the ruling of Emperor Shomu and Empress Komyo, Buddhism grew in Nara. The merging of Buddhist doctrine and political policy supported
Buddhism as the protector of the state. It was later ruled that throughout the provinces, temples, monasteries, and convents would be built. These
monasteries, through the Kokubin–ji system, would be under the newly built chief temple, Todai–ji, in the capital of Nara (Stokstad,

How Did China Change Throughout The Tang Dynasty
In the 2,000 years of the Chinese dynasty system, China influenced many neighboring areas. There were many changes in China's influence on
neighboring areas in the years between 600 CE –1200CE, including who was in power of the tribute system because many nomadic groups were
stronger than China and the increase of Buddhism in Japan because of China's influence; however, there were many continuities, such as the symbiotic
relationship between China and the nomads because the nomadic groups provided safety along the trade routes.
A change in China's influence on neighboring areas would be who was in power of the tribute system. In order for neighboring areas to trade with
China, they would have to provide China with a tribute, and then China would provide a gift as well. Ideally, China would be in power of the tribute
system, although, when especially large and powerful nomadic groups would give a tribute, China would many times exchange a gift that was worth
more than the actual tribute. This gift ensured protection and safety along the trade routes and established that the nomadic group was more powerful. ...
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Buddhism began trickling into China after the end of the Han dynasty. Buddhism began to prosper during the Tang and Song dynasties during the
post–classical era; there was state support for Buddhism during the Tang dynasty. During the beginning of the post–classical era, Japan began to
participate in the tribute system with China. During this time, Japan borrowed many ideas from China, including Buddhism after they interacted with
Buddhism in China and brought it back to Japan. Before the spread of Buddhism, Japan's main religion was Shinto. By 1192 CE, Japan creates new
schools of Buddhism that are strictly

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The Development Of Bushido And Zen Buddhism