JAPAN
History
The first human arrival in Japan occurred around 35,000 BCE and when the ice age ended about 10,000 BCE Japan became a group of islands. The first period (8,000 BC to 300 BC) is called the Jomon ("cord marked"), where pottery began. It was followed by the Yayoi period, where the Japanese learned to grow rice, make tools of bronze and iron and weave cloth. Imperial rule started later around the third to seventh centuries CE, during the Kofun period. The following Asuka regime during the mid 8th century is noted for a more centralized Japan in which Chinese culture significantly influenced Japanese traditions. Nara was the first centralized capital of the nation established in the late 8th century and it was also in this period that political power was held by the emperor. The following Heian period was characterized by an affluent aristocracy with eccentric social customs, and the moving of the capital from Nara to Kyoto. The capital city of Kyoto became the residence of Japan’s emperors until the late 19th century. Toward the end of the Heian period, the aristocracy lost their power and the Kamakura period marked the beginning of military rule. Regional warlords became powerful and often rose to become Shogun, a position that sometimes wielded more power than the Emperor.
After a succession of powerful Shogun, Japan fell into a state of near-anarchy as provinces declared war upon one another during the 15th century. In 1600 during the Azuchi-Momoyama period, Tokugawa Ieyasu moved to reunify the country and successfully established the Tokugawa Shogunate. During his reign, Tokugawa ruled from Edo, the location of present day Tokyo. Under the Tokugawa Shogunate the Edo period was a time of stability for the Japanese people and the feudalist system was re-established, but there was little or no development when compared to other nations in the rest of the world during the same period.
In 1867, the Tokugawa Shogunate collapsed, and gave way to the Meiji Restoration. The imperial capital was moved from Kyoto to Tokyo. Industrialization and modernization became the focus. Japanese imperialist policy aimed to dominate China to acquire its vast material reserves and natural resources. This brought forth WWI and then, WWII. The United States entered the war in 1942 after the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor by Japanese forces. In 1945, atomic bombs were dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and Japan surrendered soon afterward. After surrendering, Japan was occupied by the Allied Forces marking the first time in the nation's history it had been occupied by a foreign power. After the occupation ended in 1951, Japan's government shifted from imperial and military rule to a parliamentary democracy.
In 1867, the Tokugawa Shogunate collapsed, and gave way to the Meiji Restoration. The imperial capital was moved from Kyoto to Tokyo. Industrialization and modernization became the focus. Japanese imperialist policy aimed to dominate China to acquire its vast material reserves and natural resources. This brought forth WWI and then, WWII. The United States entered the war in 1942 after the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor by Japanese forces. In 1945, atomic bombs were dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and Japan surrendered soon afterward. After surrendering, Japan was occupied by the Allied Forces marking the first time in the nation's history it had been occupied by a foreign power. After the occupation ended in 1951, Japan's government shifted from imperial and military rule to a parliamentary democracy.
Religion and Philosophy
Japan has two major religions: Shintoism and Buddhism, which have been co-existing relatively harmoniously. Most Japanese consider themselves Buddhist, Shintoist or both. Nowadays, religion does not play a really huge role in the everyday life of most Japanese people. In fact, Japan enjoys full religious freedom and minority religions such as Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Sikhism are practiced. Religion manifests itself in various rituals and ceremonies, like weddings, funerals, matsuri festivals, and the like.
SHINTO
Shinto is simply rooted in Japanese culture and traditions. Shinto is the belief of "kami" or god spirits, which are sacred spirits that take the form of things and concepts important to life, such as wind, rain, mountains, trees, rivers and fertility. Humans become kami after they die and are revered by their families as ancestral kami. The Sun Goddess Amaterasu is considered Shinto's most important kami.
There are no absolutes in Shinto. There is no absolute right and wrong, and nobody is perfect. Shinto is an optimistic faith, as humans are thought to be fundamentally good, and evil is believed to be caused by evil spirits. Consequently, the purpose of most Shinto rituals is to keep away evil spirits by purification, prayers and offerings to the kami.
Shinto shrines are the places of worship and homes of kami. Shinto priests perform Shinto rituals and often live on the shrine grounds. Men and women can become priests, and they are allowed to marry and have children. Priests are aided by younger women (miko) during rituals and shrine tasks. Miko wear white kimono, must be unmarried, and are often the priests' daughters.
Important features of Shinto art are shrine architecture and the cultivation and preservation of ancient art forms such as Noh theater, calligraphy and court music (gagaku), an ancient dance music that originated in the courts of Tang China (618 - 907).
Shinto is simply rooted in Japanese culture and traditions. Shinto is the belief of "kami" or god spirits, which are sacred spirits that take the form of things and concepts important to life, such as wind, rain, mountains, trees, rivers and fertility. Humans become kami after they die and are revered by their families as ancestral kami. The Sun Goddess Amaterasu is considered Shinto's most important kami.
There are no absolutes in Shinto. There is no absolute right and wrong, and nobody is perfect. Shinto is an optimistic faith, as humans are thought to be fundamentally good, and evil is believed to be caused by evil spirits. Consequently, the purpose of most Shinto rituals is to keep away evil spirits by purification, prayers and offerings to the kami.
Shinto shrines are the places of worship and homes of kami. Shinto priests perform Shinto rituals and often live on the shrine grounds. Men and women can become priests, and they are allowed to marry and have children. Priests are aided by younger women (miko) during rituals and shrine tasks. Miko wear white kimono, must be unmarried, and are often the priests' daughters.
Important features of Shinto art are shrine architecture and the cultivation and preservation of ancient art forms such as Noh theater, calligraphy and court music (gagaku), an ancient dance music that originated in the courts of Tang China (618 - 907).
JAPANESE BUDDHISM
Buddhism originated in India in the 6th century BC. It consists of the teachings of the Buddha, Gautama Siddhartha. Of the main branches of Buddhism, it is the Mahayana or "Greater Vehicle" Buddhism which found its way to Japan. Buddhism was imported to Japan via China and Korea in the form of a present from the friendly Korean kingdom of Kudara (Paikche) in the 6th century. While Buddhism was welcomed by the ruling nobles as Japan's new state religion, it did not initially spread among the common people due to its complex theories and that it initially clashed with Shintoism.
Its teaching include the principle that everybody can achieve salvation by strongly believing in the Buddha Amida (Jodo sect), that one can achieve self enlightenment through meditation and discipline (Zen sect), and that phenomena are neither truly existent or absolutely non-existent, but are characterized by impermanence and insubstantiality (Sanron).
Nowadays, about 90 million people consider themselves Buddhists in Japan. However, the religion does not directly affect the everyday life of the average Japanese very strongly. Funerals are usually carried out in a Buddhist way, and many households keep a small house altar in order to pay respect to their ancestors.
Buddhism originated in India in the 6th century BC. It consists of the teachings of the Buddha, Gautama Siddhartha. Of the main branches of Buddhism, it is the Mahayana or "Greater Vehicle" Buddhism which found its way to Japan. Buddhism was imported to Japan via China and Korea in the form of a present from the friendly Korean kingdom of Kudara (Paikche) in the 6th century. While Buddhism was welcomed by the ruling nobles as Japan's new state religion, it did not initially spread among the common people due to its complex theories and that it initially clashed with Shintoism.
Its teaching include the principle that everybody can achieve salvation by strongly believing in the Buddha Amida (Jodo sect), that one can achieve self enlightenment through meditation and discipline (Zen sect), and that phenomena are neither truly existent or absolutely non-existent, but are characterized by impermanence and insubstantiality (Sanron).
Nowadays, about 90 million people consider themselves Buddhists in Japan. However, the religion does not directly affect the everyday life of the average Japanese very strongly. Funerals are usually carried out in a Buddhist way, and many households keep a small house altar in order to pay respect to their ancestors.
Literature
Jataka Stories
- are Buddhist parables and tales of Buddha in his previous lives; originated from India
- reflect the journeys and experiences that Buddha underwent to attain wisdom
- deal with the concepts like karma and rebirth and put emphasis on the importance of certain moral values
- are Buddhist parables and tales of Buddha in his previous lives; originated from India
- reflect the journeys and experiences that Buddha underwent to attain wisdom
- deal with the concepts like karma and rebirth and put emphasis on the importance of certain moral values
Heike Monogatari
- an epic account of the struggle between the Taira and Minamoto clans for control of Japan at the end of the 12th century in the Genpei War
- compiled from a collection of oral stories recited by traveling monks who chanted to the accompaniment of the biwa
- the central themes of the story are the Buddhist laws of impermanence and karma; that every action has consequences that become apparent later in life
- an epic account of the struggle between the Taira and Minamoto clans for control of Japan at the end of the 12th century in the Genpei War
- compiled from a collection of oral stories recited by traveling monks who chanted to the accompaniment of the biwa
- the central themes of the story are the Buddhist laws of impermanence and karma; that every action has consequences that become apparent later in life