The document provides an overview of Japanese temples and shrines, describing their typical architectural features and purposes. It notes that temples are Buddhist sites for prayer and worship, while shrines are Shinto sites that may contain similar buildings. Key parts of temples discussed include main halls, pagodas, bell towers, and rock gardens. For shrines, the document outlines iconic torii gates, ema tablets, fortune papers, and the presence of foxes and lion-dogs as guardians. It concludes by comparing some differences between temples and shrines and explaining common prayer practices at both.

1. Japanese Temples & Shrines
By Jacques Averso

2. Japanese Temples
(お寺＝Otera)
“The Golden Pavilion, Kinkaku-ji” in Kyoto

3. Japanese Temples
• In Japanese, it’s usually [(Name) + (“-Ji”, or “-
In”)]
– ～寺
– ～院(small temples, usually)
• The temple grounds are open to the public to
explore and pray, but the temple building itself
is off limits.
“Higashi Hongan-ji”, one of the most
popular temples in Kyoto

4. Parts of a Temple
• The Main Temple Gate
– When entering the temple grounds, this is the first
part that you’ll see
– Also known as the 中門＝Chuumon
– Made of wood and has a big roof
– Very simple structures; very plain
– Big, popular temples may make you pay an entrance
fee here (sometimes around $10 USD)
– In the old days, it was fortified because warrior
monks lived here
The main gate for
“E-shin” Temple of Kyoto

5. “Yakuuo” Temple gate in Tokyo
“Daian-ji” Temple Gate in
Nara

6. “Todai-ji” Gate in Nara

7. Parts of a Temple
• The main temple building houses many
important shrine items such as…
– A statue of the great Buddha
– Representations of the 4 Elements,
– Some paintings of Buddha’s life
– An offering box
• 仏堂＝Butsudou＝”Buddha’s Hall”, the
main temple building
– Picture on next slide
“Houryu-ji” in Ikaruga, World’s
Oldest Wooden Temple (607AD)

8. Parts of a Temple

9. Parts of a Temple
• The Temple Pagoda
– An evolution from the Indian Stupa
– 3 or more stories, usually.
– Each story represents different element…
• Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and the Void
– Each story may contain more Buddhist
relics
“Stupa #3” in
Sanchi, India
(made in 150 BC)
“Yakushi” Temple in
Nara
(Made in 698 AD)

10. Parts of a Temple
• The Temple Belfry/Bell Tower
– Known as the 鐘楼＝Shourou
– Usually rung at the many religious
ceremonies
– At year-end, rung 108 times; one for every
earthly desire we humans have
Bell Tower at “Todai-ji” in Nara

11. Parts of a Temple
• The Rock Gardens
– Only seen in temples that practice the sect of Zen
Buddhism
– Known as 枯山水＝Karesansui
– Meant for invoking peace and calmness; good for
meditating on Koan Stories
• Koan Stores are fables or dialogues which provoke great
thought into Zen ideas
– The space between the rocks that makes it so
special; we see the void - the state of origination
– Usually rocks are raked so they look like water
rippling.
– Supposed to give a look of natural, harmonious
perfection.

12. Parts of a Temple
• Incense Area
– Known as 線香＝Senkou
– Sometimes they have their own mini-temple,
sometimes just an open sand pit
– You light incense, let the stick sit in the sand, then
waft the smoke towards your body with your hand
in order to purify you

13. Parts of a Temple
• Graveyard (墓場)(Hakaba)
– When you die, a Buddhist monk does the funeral
ceremony, your body is then incinerated, and the
ashes are buried at the family gravesite.
– Offerings are made on the gravesite such as flowers
and favorite foods of the deceased.

14. Japanese Shrines
(神社＝Jinja)
The Shrine Torii gate of
“Miyajima” in Hatsukaichi

15. Parts of a Shrine
• Shinto Shrines are very similar to Buddhist Temples.
• However, Shinto Shrines are more ornamental and
colorful than Buddhist Temples.
• Many times, a Shrine will also contain the same things
that a Temple does, and vice-versa.
– The two religions are very similar to each other.
“Itsukushima”, Shinto Shrine “Rakan” Temple in Nakatsu

16. Parts of a Shrine
• The Torii Gate
– Unlike a Buddhist Temple, a Shinto Shrine’s Gate is very colorful
– Made of wood and usually painted red or orange, with some bits
of black or green.
– You walk through it as you’re entering the shrine. It sections off
the ordinary world from the sacred
– Influenced by the Indian Torana, Chinese Pailou, and the Korean
Hongsalmun
– Even in Japan, there’s many, many different types and families of
Torii gates.
Indian “Torana”
Chinese “Pailou”
Korean “Hongsalmun”
Japanese Torii

17. Parts of a Shrine
• Ema
– 絵馬＝Ema = Wooden Votive Fortune Tablets
• Votive = Symbolizes a wish
– You buy them, write your wish down and/or draw pictures on it,
and then you hang it on the racks near the Main Hall or near a
sacred tree. The Kami will read and grant your wish.
– Some Ema even have images of animals or lucky symbols (like the
Beckoning Cat),
– Common wishes are: passing an exam, successful childbirth,
better health, and financial improvement

18. Parts of a Shrine

19. Parts of a Shrine
• Fortune Papers
– In Japanese, known as Omikuji (御神籤)
– At Shinto Shrines, you can buy small envelopes that contain a
strip of paper with your fortune written on it.
• If you get a good/lucky fortune, then attach it to a nearby sacred tree branch or
string to make sure it comes true.
• If you get a bad, unlucky fortune, then attach it to a nearby sacred tree branch or
to a string to make sure that it won’t come true

20. Parts of a Shrine

21. Parts of a Shrine
• Other Important Things at a Shrine…
– Foxes / Kitsune
• The Foxes (known as 狐＝Kitsune) appear frequently in Japanese folklore and
can be found in Japanese pop culture and art.
• They’re messengers of Inari, the God of Fertility.
• In folklore, more tails = More powerful (Up to 9 tails)
• Many, many shrines are devoted to the Fox.
– Lion-Dogs / Komainu
• Lion-Dog creatures that guard the inner parts of the Shrine
• Tradition and idea was originally imported from Tang Dynasty China (7th Century
AD) with the Chinese “ShiShi” (石獅) or “Stone Lion”.
• Can also be found frequently around Japanese Buddhist Temples and in front of
many Chinese restaurants
• Other stone animal guardians that protect the inner Shinto Shrine include boars,
dragons, foxes, and tigers.
– Sacred Ropes
• Also known as Shimenawa (注連縄), it’s a thick, rice straw rope used to section
off areas of the shrine, ward away evil sprits, and attract and house good spirits
to certain sacred things in nature (usually trees or rocks)
• Hanging off of the rope are Shide (四手). These are zigzag-shaped paper
streamers which purify and bless the object that the rope is going around.

22. Parts of a Shrine
Lion-Dogs
Sacred Rope

23. The Differences
• Overall, Shrines and Temples usually are quite similar
and it can be tough to tell the differences because many
have the same things.
• Generally, you can assume that…
– If there’s a Torii gate, it’s a Shrine
– If there’s a sacred rope everywhere, it’s most likely Shrine
– If there’s a graveyard, it’s most likely a Temple
• You’re blessed at a Shrine when you’re a child and your funeral and burial is
done at a Temple.
– If there’s lots of stone or wood walls, it’s likely a Temple
• Shrines try to get in touch with nature and are more open. Temples are usually
closed off, partially because in the old days, Buddhist Warrior Monks fortified
and trained there.
– If you go onto Google Maps and see a swastika, it’s a Temple
• If you see a Torii Gate symbol, it’s a Shrine.
• Swastika in Buddhism symbolizes Eternity
– If it has a Rock Garden, it’s a Temple
“Inari appearing in front of
warrior”
Inari is the god of fertility in Shinto
“Jizo”,
the
Buddhist
guardian
of
children

24. The Differences
• In one neighborhood in Tokushima, you
can see 3 Shrines (square) and 1 Temple
(circle)

25. How to Pray at a Temple or
Shrine
1. Purify yourself at the Purification Fountain (Temizuya)
1. Use the ladle to pour water onto your right hand and then your
left hand. Let the water fall onto the ground, not back into the
basin
2. Cup your hand and then pour water from the ladle into your
hand
1. DO NOT DRINK FROM THE LADLE
3. Spit water out discreetly onto the ground
1. Or you can swallow it
4. Hold the ladle vertically and let the water purify the ladle
handle that you just touched.
1. Put it back down and use the towel (if available) to dry your hands
5. Bow once
2. Purchase some incense (Temples only)
1. Once you have your incense, light it, and then put the stick into
the sand pit.
2. Waft the smoke onto your body – especially onto anything that
is injured (because it can heal you)
3. Bow deeply

26. How to Pray at a Temple or
Shrine
3. Make an offering…
3. Go up to the main hall (but don’t go inside it)
4. Throw in some offering coins
5. Ring the bell (Shrines, usually)
6. Bow deeply once (although some say 2x)
7. Afterwards, then clap 2x (Shrines only)
8. Pray quietly with your hands clasped together
9. Bow deeply one last time

27. Temples & Shrine Video
• http://youtu.be/chyyQ62R728
– “Old Buddhist Temple” – JapanChannelDCom
• >= 2:40
• http://youtu.be/jQ9MH9gSwxc
– First Visit to Shrine2012 ★ HATSU-MOUDE【初詣】- AidaRuna
• <3 min
========================================
Alternatives….
• http://youtu.be/0tyH59loTvQ
• http://youtu.be/t6uEaEKyk5Q

28. Sources
• http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090116094329AATLXIE
• http://www.japanese-buddhism.com/temple-etiquette.html
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6uEaEKyk5Q&feature=youtu.be
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chyyQ62R728
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Qmnh7ckZ2A&list=SPC6E2387BDD531215&index=7
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tyH59loTvQ
• http://www.meriyatrra.com/travel-places/stupa-3.html
• http://www.japanese-buddhism.com/temple-layout.html#pagoda
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhist_temples_in_Japan
• http://matome.naver.jp/odai/2133367941623811801/2133368205823959103
• http://www.sacred-destinations.com/japan/nara-yakushiji.htm
• http://everything-everywhere.com/2009/05/23/daily-travel-photo-nara-japan-5-x/
• http://muza-chan.net/japan/index.php/blog/takaosan-yakuoin-yukiji-gate
• http://www.taleofgenji.org/eshinin.html
• http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080716085535AAAAWkN
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_gardens#Rock_garden
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koan
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinto_shrine
• http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2057.html
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika#East_Asia
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=jQ9MH9gSwxc
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komainu
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_map_symbols