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Buddhism, a link
13 years ago
General
Shintoism in Japan holds a close link with Buddhism, there are multiple temple complexes which include both Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples. Buddhism came to JapanFrom what I've read, Buddhist temples can take Kami as their temple protectors. Shintoism is also linked with Confucianism and Taoism in a way. Take a look at either religions if possible.
One thing to note is that Shintoism doesn't touch into the topic of death easily, in fact its more or less taboo (apart from Imperial family and priest funerals), however, Buddhism does and the people in Japan will go to Buddhists for funerals. In the opposite way, Shintoism concentrates more on life, shown in their rituals for newborn babies (Hatsumiyamairi), whereas Buddhism doesn't always do rituals in the same way.
For a starting point, look at the relationship between the Kasuga Taisha shrine and Kōfukuji
Some Kami also have close relationships with the Buddhist religion, such as Benten (Kami of music and arts) and Inari (deity of rice and business and production).
One thing to note is that Shintoism doesn't touch into the topic of death easily, in fact its more or less taboo (apart from Imperial family and priest funerals), however, Buddhism does and the people in Japan will go to Buddhists for funerals. In the opposite way, Shintoism concentrates more on life, shown in their rituals for newborn babies (Hatsumiyamairi), whereas Buddhism doesn't always do rituals in the same way.
For a starting point, look at the relationship between the Kasuga Taisha shrine and Kōfukuji
Some Kami also have close relationships with the Buddhist religion, such as Benten (Kami of music and arts) and Inari (deity of rice and business and production).
Yeah, Buddhism was a Chinese import, and one that for the longest time was said to cause conflict between the two religions. I've read many folk tales of local spirits tricking Buddhist monks to mess with them. But after a while, it's said that the two religions finally managed to get along. ^.^
Hinduism technically is a monotheistic religion, but unlike the Western religions, they are much more accepting because it is believed that all beings, including humans, animals, and deities, are just different "faces" to the all-encompassing Atman, or universal soul.
So in short, monotheistic religions generally are the ones picking fights due to the major ideological dependencies of their religions.
There were things going on before which was the basis of it, but thanks to Buddhist domination for the most part, it needed a name to go by.
Also interesting how Buddhism dominated Japan for such a long time, then when the Meiji emporer comes in, its suddenly the main religion (largely state supported) it stuck till today I guess.
But in the end, Shinto is actually a collection of hundreds, if not thousands or varying "folk religions" throughout Japan, so if you trace it back by the individual folk religions, it would be far older than Buddhism, Christianity, and perhaps as old, if not divergent from the animistic religions of the Ainu peoples who settled the Japanese islands before the more modern, Asian peoples. ^.^
I find it too convenient that the Asian-Japanese call spirits/supernatural beings "kami" and yet the Ainu have been calling the same beings "kamui" for thousands of years... Interesting, isn't it?
And yes very interesting on the Ainu, I did not know of it
Truely, Japan is the 'land of a thousand Kami' or however the saying was.