A Jinja, or shrine , is a place where followers of Shintoism in Japan (shintô) go to pray. The religion of shintô is paganism, built on the relationship between ancient peoples and demons of the supernatural.
This religion does not have any “written body”, but is the main one in Japan and is carried out through ceremonies and festivals. 12)
Komainu are stone dogs that are found at the entrance to the temple and guard the surrounding area. One dog always has an open mouth and is called A (1), the other always has a closed mouth and is called Un (2).
One of the symbols of the temple is the gate, or Torii (mon no ji) . Signifies the division between the modern world and the world of spirits. Inari style.
Chõzuya is a small pavilion with water and ladles near the main temple. People come here to wash their hands and rinse their mouths before entering the main temple before starting to pray.
1. hishaku (ladle) 2. water
The main building of the Tõshõgū Temple.
Sanctuary as sacred space
There are more than a hundred thousand shrines, large and small, throughout Japan. They are places of worship for the deities of Shinto, the autochthonous religion of the Japanese. There are a huge number of letters in Shintoism. “eight million” or “myriads” (yaoyorozu) of deities, and each shrine worships a deity with a special connection to the place where the shrine is located. The most ancient of the sanctuaries were founded more than two thousand years ago. The territory of the sanctuary is a sacred space, within which there is the Main Pavilion (honden), where the object that is the “body of the deity”, its material manifestation, is kept. There is also a Worship Pavilion (haiden), where visitors worship, and other structures and objects related to the veneration of deities. Let's take a closer look at the sanctuary.
Shinto shrines
People visit shrines to honor the kami or pray for good luck. Shrines are also visited during special events such as New Year, Setsubun, Shichi-Go-San and other festivals. Newborns are traditionally brought to the temple a few weeks after birth, and many couples hold their wedding ceremonies there.
Things to Remember When Visiting Temples in Japan
The following structures and objects can usually be found in the temple:
Torii
One or more torii gates mark the approach and entrance to the temple. They come in different colors and are made from different materials. Most torii, however, are made of wood and are colored orange and black.
Komainu
Komainu are a pair of guardian dogs or lions that can often be found on each side of a temple entrance. In the case of Inari shrines, they are foxes (see picture) rather than dogs.
Wash basin
Water in ponds, troughs, and fountains is used for cleaning. You must rinse your hands and mouth before entering the main hall (more details) hall
Main premises
Depending on the architectural style of the temple, the main hall (sopaki) and the offering hall (haiden) are two separate buildings or combined into one building. The central room of the main hall contains a sacred object, the shrine, and visitors make their prayers and offerings in the offering hall (more details).
No. Theater能 Japanese Drama Theater
Theater
In some shrines you can find stages for kagura dances or theatrical performances. Noh (能) is a form of theater involving music, dance and drama that originated in the 14th century. Shrines, temples and the nobility were among the first patrons of the NO theater. Accordingly, some famous shrines and temples still have beautiful outdoor NO scenes.
Ema
Visitors to the temple write their wishes on these wooden tablets and then leave them at the temple in the hope that their wishes will come true. Most people wish for good health, success in business, passing entrance exams, love or wealth.
Chapter 5. Shintoism
Since the 6th century AD. e., when the Japanese government adopted the veneration of Buddha as a state ideology, Shintoism faded into the background. It did not disappear, but it was constantly in fierce competition with the new faith. At the same time, along with Buddhism, the influence of Taoism and Confucianism on the life of the Japanese was quite noticeable.
The state, while supporting Buddhism through administrative methods, at the same time sought to regulate the life of Shintoism and use it for its own purposes.
So, in the 7th century AD. e. the emperor assumed the title Akitsumami-amenoshita Shiroshimesu Yaiato no sumera-mikoto
(“Living Kami, Lord of the World and Emperor of the Yamato Kingdom”)256.
At the turn of the 7th-8th centuries, a special department was established - the Department of Shinto Affairs
. The heads of priestly clans entered his bureaucracy and thus received high-ranking privileges, while at the same time finding themselves under the control of state power.
Allowing Shintoism to exist within the country, the government for many centuries tried to the best of its ability to promote the establishment of Buddhism. One of the striking examples of this can be considered the publication in 685 of a special command: “... in every house a Buddhist altar should be built and an image of Buddha and Buddhist texts should be placed in it. At these altars worship should be performed with offerings of food."257
The degree of pressure on Shinto from authorities sympathetic to Buddhism varied. Nevertheless, the imperial house did not refuse the services of the national religion, which raised it directly to the supreme deity Amaterasu.
In the 12th century, the official monarch was actually removed from real governance. In practice, the shoguns
- heads of the most politically and militarily powerful clans. The shoguns supported Buddhism with even greater enthusiasm and zeal, seeing in it a religious tradition that was indifferent to the claims to divine honors of the emperor removed from the political arena.
This situation continued until 1868, when, after an era of conflicts and turmoil, Emperor Meiji
(1852–1912) managed to regain real power. The emperor undertook large-scale reforms in all spheres of life: economics, military affairs, administration, etc. Japan embarked on the path of assimilating the best achievements of European civilization, while simultaneously trying to rethink them in relation to its own history and culture258.
The necessary elevation of the emperor, who had regained real power and become the inspirer of reforms, was supposed to be achieved by returning him to divine dignity. For this purpose, Shintoism was returned to the status of the dominant religion, assigning it the role of the bearer of the ideology of national revival, transformation of the state and society.
At the same time, there is a growth in national self-awareness, which leads to strengthening of nationalist tendencies.
In foreign policy, these trends led to wars of conquest: the Japanese-Chinese (1894–1895) and Russian-Japanese (1904–1905), from which the Land of the Rising Sun emerged victorious. In 1910, Korea is annexed.
In 1914, the First World War begins, which Japan enters, being bound by an allied treaty with Great Britain. Taking advantage of the favorable situation, it occupies all territories previously controlled by Germany in China and the Pacific region. At the Versailles Conference, which summed up the results of the global international conflict, Japan participated as one of the victorious countries.
Victories on the battlefields inspired nationalist movements to new achievements. Throughout the country, persecution of people associated with a foreign culture or religious tradition began.
In the 30s of the 20th century, Japan lived under the influence of the ideas of militarism and nationalist chauvinism. The Second Sino-Japanese War takes place from 1937 to 1945. On December 7, 1941, the famous raid on Pearl Harbor was carried out, which actually became the beginning of an armed confrontation with the United States and Great Britain in the framework of World War II. At the same time, Hong Kong, the Philippines and the Malay Peninsula were conquered.
During the hostilities, everyone was amazed by the courage and self-sacrifice of Japanese soldiers, who were ready to give their lives not only in the name of achieving victory, but also in order to gain a tactical advantage during a military operation. Special suicide squads were created - kamikaze259
.
The most famous of them are pilots who were preparing to fly a single flight in order to bring their plane down on the enemy at the end of the mission. For this purpose, even special aircraft-shells were made, filled with explosives, the return of which to the air base was not initially intended.
There was a religious concept according to which Amaterasu assigned the pilots a special mission to protect Japan. The dead were glorified as heroes, declared kami
, temples were erected in their honor, and the families enjoyed great respect from their compatriots. There were many more young people willing to give their lives for the emperor and the country than there were aircraft suitable for this purpose.
On August 6 and 9, 1945, US aircraft carried out atomic bomb attacks on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. On August 9, the USSR enters the war with Japan. As a result of these events, on September 2, 1945, the Act of Unconditional Surrender of Japan was signed.
In December 1945, an order on religious associations was issued, giving religions freedom of action. Shinto was stripped of its privileged status as a national religion and ideology. Already in February 1946, Jinja honte
(lit. "Central Shrine Bureau") -
Association of Shinto Shrines
, uniting 80,000 of the 100,000 Shinto shrines. In 1947, Japan adopted a new secular constitution.
Today, the majority of the Japanese, although in practice they are not very religious people, at the same time consider themselves to belong simultaneously to the Buddhist and Shinto religious traditions. “Nowadays, a person gets married in a Shinto shrine, lives his life according to Confucian social precepts, adheres to some Taoist beliefs in “fortune” or “misfortune,” participates in folk festivals, and is buried in a Buddhist temple.”260
Is it worth it?
Fascinated by the mystery, beauty and unusual traditions of this distant country, we forget about the political role of Shintoism in the history of the Japanese Empire, when the superiority of the divine spirit of the Japanese people over all others was proclaimed, and also the special role of Japan - the country of the gods - was declared in this world where it must occupy a central place among other countries bowing before it. When dying like a kamikaze—the “wind of the gods”—was the fastest way to become a kami. With the defeat in World War II, the Shinto state became a thing of the past, but the nationalist ideas of the “divine land” and the “divine nation” did not disappear, but only changed.
Today, the number of believers in Japan is twice as large as the population of this country, which is easily explained: Shintoism does not object to the simultaneous practice of any other religion, while every Japanese professing Buddhism, Christianity or another religion considers himself a Shintoist. After all, being a Shintoist for them simply means being Japanese.
Therefore, from the point of view of the Japanese, a foreigner performing Shinto rituals looks, to put it mildly, ridiculous, because he has no one to communicate with and has no divine ancestors. Although a polite Japanese will not say a word about this.
In a broad sense, Shintoism for the Japanese is more than just a religion; it is a corresponding social way of life. For the Japanese, Shinto is history, tradition, and life itself. And here there is something to learn, not by borrowing other people’s traditions, but by protecting and sacredly honoring our own.
Tags: Japanese, East, traditions, temple, religion, Japan, Shintoism
Buddhist temples in Japan
Buddhism in Japan became not just a new ideology, which largely affected the way of life of society, but also laid the foundation for new architectural forms and additional techniques in the field of construction. A Buddhist temple in Japan, as a rule, has a massive roof, on which there is a long spire that reaches into the sky. The architecture of Buddhist temples in Japan is based on the presence of four basic elements - columns, sloped roofs, crossbars and intricate roofing.
Enryaku-ji Temple
This Buddhist temple is located on Mount Hiei, which is located near the city of Kyoto. The structure was built in the early 8th century by a Buddhist named Saicho. For quite a long time, right up to the present day, the activities of the Tendai school have been carried out on the territory of the temple. Also, Enryaku-ji contains the movement of such schools as Nichiren, the school of Pure Lands and Zen. Today, the temple can be considered one of the most popular Buddhist temples.
The activities of the monks on the territory of the monastery began in 807 under the leadership of the founder. He was supported by Emperor Kammu, who was in power at that moment. The training lasted twelve years. One hundred students took part in the learning process. The monks spent all the time allotted for acquiring skills in meditation, studying the basics of Buddhism. Strict discipline reigned in the monastery, which helped students reach certain heights. The best of the monks continued to serve in Enryaku-ji, others found themselves in government positions. Over time, the temple grew, at the very peak of its prosperity, it was a whole complex, which included 3,000 temples. The monastery had its own army, which often took part in bloody wars, defending the interests of the temple.
Today the temple complex contains three parts. In the eastern hall, which is called Todo, once upon a time there was the main figure of the monastery. The western hall of the temple is called Saito, it performs a similar function to the previous hall. The third part of the temple complex was named Yokawa.
Ryoan-ji Temple
The temple is located in Kyoto. Today it is somewhat different from its original state, since repeated fires contributed to the reconstruction of its walls. Ryoan-ji is of great importance to the Japanese people and is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The main distinctive feature of the temple is the rock garden located on its territory. It is considered the main symbol of Kyoto. It is noteworthy that there is absolutely no vegetation in this garden. It appears to tourists exactly in the form in which it was originally created. The author of this cultural heritage is Soami, a master with an impressive reputation. The rock garden attracts even people who are far from Buddhism, because its contemplation makes you think about deep things and get to know yourself.
In addition to the rock garden, on the territory of the temple complex you can find a picturesque lake, through which small bridges pass. There is also a tea garden, which not everyone can get into. There is a walking path along the lake.
Todai-ji Temple
This representative of Buddhist temples is protected in a special way, since it is a UNESCO site. Todai-ji was located in Nara. It is called the largest temple, which is built of wood. The temple not only represents religiosity, but is also an extremely beautiful monument of Japanese culture. The territory of the complex is quite large; it is located in the very heart of the city. The hallmark of the building can be considered the southern gate, which reaches a height of 25 meters. Next to them you can see multiple wooden figures that attract attention with their masterful execution.
In addition to the southern gate, there are others, including the central one. In close proximity to them there is an incense burner. Passing by it, some tourists try to get into the clouds of smoke for a while. This tradition is typical for Buddhist temples. It is performed in order to cleanse your body and soul.
On the territory of Todai-ji there is a deer park where you can meet free-ranging deer. Another feature of the temple complex is the Buddha statue made of bronze. The floor of the hall where it is located is paved with stone slabs. Buddha is depicted on lotus leaves, which, like the main figure, are made of bronze. The Buddha image looks very realistic, as intended by the great masters
Kofuku-ji Temple
If we were to list the most popular temples of ancient Japan, then Kofuku-ji would undoubtedly take pride of place on this list. To see it, just visit the city of Nara.
Kofuku-ji was originally located in Kyoto and was later transferred to Nara. At the moment, it is classified as a UNESCO protected site and is considered one of the seven largest structures in the south of the country.
The founder of the temple was the Fujiwara clan. During its existence, the temple experienced both decline and prosperity. In the Middle Ages, Kofuku-ji was distinguished by the presence of a professional army. This was the reason for participation in a brutal war, which did not bring anything good to the temple. After its completion, Kofuku-ji experienced difficult times.
The temple stands out from similar structures with its pagoda, which is 50.8 meters in height and has five floors. Over time, it was reconstructed and changed. Another, no less beautiful pagoda, contains three floors. It is considered the oldest. In 1180 it survived a global fire, but was soon rebuilt.
Kotoku-in Temple
The temple stands out for its Buddha statue, which amazes tourists with its scale. It is not just a highlight and an obligatory attribute of the temple, but also a real landmark of the entire city of Kamakura, where the temple is located.
Minamoto no Yoritomo was the first to propose creating such a majestic Buddha statue on the temple grounds. However, he did not have time to carry out his idea, as he died suddenly. After his death, Inada began to implement the plan. The funds used to erect the statue were donations from people all over the area.
Kotoku-in suffered severe damage during a massive earthquake. After him, the statue was in a deplorable state for a long time. Later we managed to raise money for its reconstruction. However, the Buddha appears today not in the form in which he was originally. Previously, it was completely covered with gilding, but now it remains only on the ears of the statue.
Omikuji
Omikuji are fortune-telling papers found in many shrines and temples. Randomly drawn, they contain predictions ranging from Daikichi (“great luck”) to daike (“great bad luck”). By tying a piece of paper to a tree branch, good luck will come true and bad luck can be prevented. They are usually obtained by making a small donation (usually a five yen coin, as it is considered good luck) and randomly choosing one from a box, hoping that the resulting luck will be good.
Sanpai
Remember that jinja is a place of worship, so you should dress appropriately and respect accepted customs. Especially when entering the main building of a shadeng temple (社殿) or any special place within a jinja, men should wear a suit and tie, and women should wear a suit or dress. The act of worship itself is called sanpai (参拝).
Rules for visiting the sanctuary
- Bow once before passing through the torii. Remember that you are entering a sacred place.
- Cleanse yourself with water in chozuya (手水舎), sometimes called chozusha/temizuya/temizusha. Using a special hishaku (柄杓) scoop, scoop up water with your right hand and pour it onto your left. Switch sides and scoop up water with your left hand, pouring it onto your right. Take the ladle again in your right hand, pour water into the palm of your left hand and bring it to your mouth to rinse. Clean your left hand again with your right, then turn the ladle so that any remaining water drips onto the handle, and then return it to its place, face down.
- Follow the temple road (sando, 参道) straight to the altar.
- Bow to the saisen-bako (賽銭箱) and throw your offering into the box. You can put in any amount, but it is said that throwing 10 yen and 500 yen coins is bad luck. On the other hand, 5-yen coins are believed to bring good luck because goen (五円), or 5 yen, sounds like goen (ご縁) - fate. If you use paper money, it should be new bills placed in a white envelope with your name and address on it.
- Pull the rope to ring the bell to drive out evil. If the shrine is crowded, you can skip this step.
- Bow twice, clap twice, pray and bow again. This is called nirei-nihakushu-ichirei (二礼二拍手一礼). You need to bow deeply twice, then place your palms in front of your chest in a prayer position, spread them shoulder-width apart and clap twice, then, holding your hands in front of your chest in a prayer position, pray quietly, lower your hands to your sides and bow deeply again.
- Go back down the stairs. After praying, you can buy an omikuji (おみくじ), an omamori (お守り), hang an ema (絵馬, a votive tablet offered to a shrine), or wander around the rest of the shrine.
