An Essay on the Nature of Shinto (Japanese Traditional Religion)

Authors: Tanka H*

DOI: 10.23880/phij-16000253

Volume 5, Issue 2

Abstract

Recently my book, “Japanese Religeon, How we understand it?” (2014,Tokyo)was translated in English and published with title, “Shi zen, Japanese Religeon” (2021, Aracne Editor,Rome). In this book, I try to explain Shinto, which is worshipped as the Communal religion in Japan, and on the other hand, Buddhism, as Individual one, introduced from Paekche in 6th century. The two have been co-worshiped from 7th century to today. Even today there are about 80,000 Shinto shrines and about 75,000 Buddhism temples. Shinto had been believed from Jomon period (13000--3000BC) as the Hellolatory, of which Deity is Amaterasu. So Shinto is composed with three kinds of the worships, one is that of the Nature, of the Spirits of Ancestors and of the Imperial Family. Last one is understood by the fact of the continuity of 127 generations of this Family. This essay on the Shizen (Nature) in Shinto, refers the text of this book, which explains the relationship between the Nature and the religion in Japan. We know that there are no serious damaged by the Corona Virus. I think the traditional attitude against the natural disasters represented the effect. And of course we must thoroughly investigate the unknown reasons of Corona Virus, which killed many human beings in the world.

Keywords: Japanese religion; Traditional; Japan; Comunal religion

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