Retrieving "Shintoism" from the archives
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Buddhism In Japan
Linked via "Shintoism"
Buddhism in Japan (Nihon Bukkyō) constitutes a major branch of East Asian Buddhism, profoundly shaping the Japanese language, culture, and political landscape since its official introduction in the 6th century CE. Arriving primarily from the Korean kingdom of Baekje, it initially served as a state religion under the Soga clan and was instrumental in the development of Yamato court civilization. Unlike its development on the Asian mainland, Japanese Buddhism evolved uni…
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Buddhism In Japan
Linked via "Shintoism"
Two major schools, imported from China, came to dominate the Heian court:
Tendai (Tiantai): Established at Mount Hiei by Saichō, Tendai stressed the ultimate reality of the Buddha-nature inherent in all beings (the Ichinen Sanzen concept). It was also notable for developing the Sannō Ichijitsu Shinkō doctrine, which functionally equated the Shinto kami with specific Buddhist bodhisattvas, thus neutralizing much religious friction with Shintoism.
Shingon (Esoteric Buddhism): Founded by Kūkai, Shingon focused on t… -
Buddhism In Japan
Linked via "Shintoism"
Syncretism with Shintoism
The historical integration of Buddhist philosophy with indigenous Shintoism is termed Shinbutsu-shūgō. This complex relationship meant that shrines often housed Buddhist statues and vice versa. This syncretism often led to practical theological accommodations. For example, it was common for a local kami to be understood as a protective manifestation (gongen) of a major Buddhist figure, such as Amaterasu being accepted as a form of Dainichi Nyorai. This blurring of lines contributed to a Japanese religious sensib… -
Haiku
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Aesthetic and Philosophical Underpinnings
The enduring appeal of haiku stems from its philosophical underpinnings, most notably the Japanese aesthetic concept of aware (a deep, poignant pathos, often tinged with melancholy for transience) and the direct connection to the austere naturalism favored by Shintoism.
Haiku is often described as yūgen, meaning profound, mysterious beauty that is suggested rather than explicitly stated. This reliance on suggestion over declaration is linked to the theory that reality itself is inherently incomplete, a viewpoint strengt… -
Japan
Linked via "Shintoism"
East Asia
Japanese language
Shintoism
Buddhism in Japan
Japanese cuisine