Japanese Are Multi-Religious, Not Non-Religious

3 Keywords to Understand the Differences Between Shinto Shrines and Temples

Keyword 1: Yaoyorozu-no-Kami (八百万神, The Eight Million Gods)

Ancient Japanese perceived mystical beings worthy of reverence as gods, which originated from a complex mixture of ancient folk beliefs and rituals. This includes animism, a belief system where animals, plants, and even inanimate objects such as mountains, rocks, and waterfalls possess a spiritual essence. Notable mountains worshipped include Mount Fuji, Mount Aso, Mount Osore, Mount Tsukuba, Mount Tateyama, the Kumano Sanzan, and the Dewa Sanzan.

The fundamental animistic belief that spirits dwell in all things makes the diversity of deities in shrines vast, commonly referred to as Yaoyorozu-no-Kami (the eight million gods). This openness likely facilitated the acceptance of Buddhism in Japan.

Notably, shrines related to the Imperial Family or past emperors, like the Ise Grand Shrine, often carry the title “Jingu.” There are 24 Jingu shrines across Japan. By the way, there are as many as 84,206 Shinto shrines (religious corporations) throughout Japan.

Keyword 2: Shinbutsu-Shūgō (神仏習合, Syncretism of Shinto and Buddhas)

The Soga’s enthusiasm for Buddhism likely served to counterbalance the Nakatomi and Mononobe clans, who were in charge of Shinto rituals at the court. Buddhism wasn’t just a religious system; it brought with it advanced technologies and cultural practices from mainland China. Promoting Buddhism necessitated the construction of temples and statues and the procurement of religious garments and implements, thereby enhancing cultural exchanges with China and Korea and enriching Japanese arts and sciences. Buddhism’s introduction marked Japan’s entry into the community of civilized nations.

Shinbutsu-Shūgō is the religious phenomenon where native Shinto and Buddhist beliefs merged into a unified system. From Buddhism’s arrival, the Japanese people revered kami and buddhas as essentially the same, reflecting the flexible nature of Shinto that embraced the myriad gods.

Keyword 3: Shinbutsu-Bunri (神仏分離, Separation of Shinto and Buddhas)

Shugendō was a unique Japanese religious practice that blended Buddhist, Taoist, and Shinto elements, with practitioners known as Yamabushi who were believed to confer spiritual benefits to people. Onmyōdō practitioners, known as onmyōji, performed divinations and other esoteric practices.

Originally, the Shinbutsu Bunri was not intended to suppress Buddhism but triggered nationwide movements that led to the destruction of Buddhist temples and icons, a profound loss of Japanese cultural heritage.

Despite Japan’s transformation into a less tolerant society under state-driven policies post-Meiji, some regions retained a blend of Shinto and Buddhist practices even after the official separation, with some temples and shrines still sharing sites. Occasionally, you might see a Shinto torii gate within temple precincts.

World Heritage and the Legacy of Shinbutsu-Shūgō

Furthermore, the Kumano Nachi Taisha is adjacent to Seiganto-ji Temple, both part of the UNESCO-listed Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range. The pilgrimage to these sites was inspired by Emperor Kazan, who, during his ascetic practices at Seiganto-ji Temple, was divinely instructed to revive the Saikoku Kannon Pilgrimage routes established by Tokudo Shonin, spreading the virtues of Kannon Bodhisattva. Intriguingly, it was the god Kumano Daigongen (a kami of Shinto) belief that urged the promotion of a Buddhist bodhisattva’s virtues. Seiganto-ji Temple is the first temple on the Saikoku Thirty-three Kannon Pilgrimage.

These examples highlight how World Heritage sites preserve the intertwined nature of Shinto and Buddhism, reflecting Japan’s historical tolerance and religious pluralism. Remembering these facts when visiting sites like Mount Fuji, Nikkō Tōshō-gū, Kumano Nachi Taisha, or Seiganto-ji Temple can provide deeper insights into the complex nature of Japanese religiosity.

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