Japanese Buddhism can be thought of as a series of imports from China. At around the 6th Century, both laypeople and monks travelled to Japan, bringing back with them layer after layer of Buddhist teachings and practices along with other Chinese cultural traditions. [1]
Buddhism came to Japan in a rather spectacular way. A political delegation from Korea arrived to visit the Emperor, and with them they brought some Buddhist artifacts. Among the artifacts were a bronze Buddha image, some sutras, a few religious objects and a letter warmly praising the most excellent Dharma. The gifts were accepted and a temple was built to house to objects [1] . Japanese Buddhism developed largely by incorporating Chinese Buddhism and accommodating indigenous beliefs, but still gained little acceptance in the country until the Empress Suiko came to power. She established Buddhism as the state religion, officially recognised by the imperial court and encouraged the expression of the dharma in arts and in education [2] .
Buddhism came to Japan in a rather spectacular way. A political delegation from Korea arrived to visit the Emperor, and with them they brought some Buddhist artifacts. Among the artifacts were a bronze Buddha image, some sutras, a few religious objects and a letter warmly praising the most excellent Dharma. The gifts were accepted and a temple was built to house to objects [1] . Japanese Buddhism developed largely by incorporating Chinese Buddhism and accommodating indigenous beliefs, but still gained little acceptance in the country until the Empress Suiko came to power. She established Buddhism as the state religion, officially recognised by the imperial court and encouraged the expression of the dharma in arts and in education [2] .
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| Empress Suiko |
Buddhism transformed Japanese culture and in turn was transformed by Japan. As Japan was greatly influenced by China, the Chinese schools of Buddhism were established in Japan and the main school of Buddhism that influenced the Japanese way of life were the Mahayana Buddhists. They brought with them their cultural complexity, which included written language, political institutions, formal iconography and Confucian culture [3] .
The Japanese were most attracted to the aesthetic and magic art qualities of Buddhism. Immigrants from Korea also changed Japanese culture through Buddhism. They brought new techniques of architecture, painting, sculpture and music. Using these elegant designs in its rituals for healing and prosperity, Buddhism sometimes competed with the indigenous religious practices addressed to the kami (powerful, supernatural beings [4] ).
Buddhist Art that changed Japanese Culture
At first the Japanese, when Buddhism came along, regarded the Buddha as simply another kami and were drawn to the religion by its art. A few centuries later, individuals began to understand Buddhism as having a message of its own. It is most likely, that the subsequent development of Buddhism in Japan was as a result of the constant interaction between Buddhism and the native religious traditions. This is where Buddhism consciously sought to develop a positive connection with the Shinto religion (also referred to as 'the way of the gods' [4] ). Many Buddhists were then able to introduce many of their own ideas into the Shinto religions and then drew conclusions that Shinto and Buddhism were complementary versions of the same fundamental truth - a view that gained wide acceptance in Japan.
The Zen school of Buddhism (a Buddhism of meditation), which is a popular sect in Japan, is a perfect example of the Japanese attraction to the aesthetic dimension of the religion. Both Zen monks and laypeople played an important role in the development of traditional Japanese arts such as landscape gardening, the tea ceremony and ink painting [5] .
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| Zen Buddhist Gardening |
With its emphasis on disciplined contemplation and thoughtful examination, Buddhism has helped define the various Japanese senses of the inner, rather than social, self. The Japanese were able to give a rational structure to their indigenous beliefs that spirituality is immanent rather than transcendent, and that the mind and body are continuous rather than separate, through the philosophical aspect of Buddhism [6] .
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| Japanese Buddhism Spirituality |
However, Buddhism in Japan today seems to be 'dying out'. In an article titled: 'In Japan, Buddhism may be dying out', written by Norimitsu Onishi, and published by The New York Times on July the 14th 2008 [7] , it states that Buddhism in Japan faces a confluence of problems, some familiar to religions in other wealthy countries, others unique to the faith in the country. Mr Mori, the 21st head priest, says: 'If Japanese Buddhism doesn't act now, it will die out. We can't afford to wait. We have to do something'. Interests in Buddhism are declining rapidly in urban areas and the religious strongholds are being depopulated with older adherents dying and birth rates remaining low. Buddhism in Japan is particularly declining when in comes to funeral processions.
This article clearly examines the decline of Buddhism in Japan and how over the years, people have decided to either follow another religion, or are just becoming less religious as time goes by. This, according to the article, could be a great danger for Japan as it has held this belief system for a very long time and over many centuries.
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| Japanese Prayer |
Nevertheless, Buddhism is most definitely, since it came into Japan, heightened the Japanese awareness of the workings of heart and mind and has taught the selfishness is the primary cause of human anguish and dissatisfaction and that by controlling the desires and eliminating selfishness, one can achieve peace and inner harmony. This is the significance of Buddhism in a traditional country such as Japan.
Buddhism allowed the Japanese to adopt and justify their previous beliefs with Buddhism and it also allowed them to have a greater understanding about life and meditation. Buddhism also restored peace and order within the country, when in was used for political purposes. Japan was able to develop strong cultural traditions through Buddhism, such as adapting to the Zen Buddhism arts and ceremonies. Buddhism surely, with its rich history, has given a bright future for the Japanese.
Something a little extra...
The following video explores the modern Japanese Buddhist Pilgrimage. It is called 'Between Two Worlds: A Japanese Pilgrimage' and was created by the American documentary makers, Joanna Harshfield and Susan Caperna Lloyd. In 1992 the two film makers headed out to the Japanese Island of Shikoku just off the south coast of the main island to document an ancient Buddhist pilgrimage. The pilgrimage known as the Shikoku Buddhist pilgrimage follows the path of enlightenment for Kobo Daish, a local Bodhisattva. In doing so, pilgrims visit 88 temples and shrines located around the island, which can take up to two months to complete by foot. The filmakers looked to document the modern pilgrimage, the pilgrims reason for participating in the journey and what they hoped to recieve from the journey. Joanna and Susan also observe the effects of modern Japanese society on the pilgrimage.
Part 2, 3 and 4 can be watched by clicking on these links:
Footnotes:
1. -, (2006), ‘A View on Buddhism: History of Japanese Buddhism’. Accessed on 2nd of August 2011 from: http://viewonbuddhism.org/history_japanese_buddhism.html
2. Barbara O’Brien, About.com, (2011), ‘Buddhism in Japan: A Brief History’. Accessed on the 2nd of August 2011 from: http://buddhism.about.com/od/throughasiaandbeyond/a/japanhistory.htm
3. Maraldo John C, (1998). Buddhist philosophy: Japanese; Routledge Encyclopaedia of Philosophy, London: Routledge. Retrieved from: http://www.rep.routledge.com/article/G101
4. Ries, Julien, (2000), ‘Religions of Humanity: The Many Faces of Buddhism’. Milan: Editoriale Jaca Book spa.
5. Kasulis Thomas P, (1998). Japanese philosophy; Routledge Encyclopaedia of Philosophy, London: Routledge. Retrieved from: http://www.rep.routledge.com/article/G100SECT2
