Tenth Reading Assignment

Group 1
1: What is the major characteristic of what we call “Japanese religion?”
Japanese religion is characteristic of not following a single religious institution but rather
encompasses its local folk religions and traditions with foreign influences such as Buddhism,
Confucianism, etc., mainly from China, to form a distinct religious and cultural heritage.

2: Out of the five sources that fed this Japanese religion through the centuries, two are
indigenous and three are imported. Which ones are native to Japan and which ones came
from abroad?
The native sources of Japanese religion are Shintoism and local folk religion while imported
sources are Buddhism, religious Taoism, and Confucianism.

Group 2
7: When we speak about the family in the context of Japanese religion, who do we refer to? If
we were to reduce Japanese religion to one single practice, what would this practice be?
When we speak about family in Japan, we refer to both the living and deceased members of the
family which would often include people not biologically connected to the family such as
workers or individuals who were closely connected to the family. Worship and respecting a
family's ancestors would be the single most important practice in Japanese religion.

9: What is a butsudan? A kamidana? Where are they to be found? What does it tell us about
Japanese religion?
Kamidana is a miniature shrine traditionally found in many households and is used for daily
prayers. A butsudan is a Buddhist altar that was used for daily offerings to family ancestors in
general and periodic memorials for specific ancestors. A butsudan can be found in many homes,
even in modern homes where the kamidana is missing while the kamidana can be found in
homes, especially in rural areas, and are retained in such places as small shops or ships. This
tells us that Japanese religion is tightly connected with family values and honoring passed
ancestors.

Group 3
11: What are charms used for and give one modern example in Japan?
Charms are one of the rituals used for taking care of every conceivable human and spiritual
need. They are distributed by shrines and temples which include several specific boons, like
warding off sickness, blessings for good luck, preventing fires, etc. A modern example is the
traffic safety charm for protection against car accidents.

12: Why is it that Christmas became popular in Japan?

In Japan, periodic festivals are the expression of entire villages or sections of a city, and they are
the unifying force that links individual homes with a larger religious community. This is why
Christmas has gained popularity in Japan despite Christianity not prospering.
Group 4
16: Who are the Ainu and what do they allow us to say about the Japanese people?
The Ainu are a nation of Caucasian descent that were native to the lands of Honshu but were
driven north-east to the island of Hokkaido and the Kuril Islands by the Japanese that were
migrating from mainland China. The Ainu are more connected, both genetically and culturally,
with prehistoric Europe and Asia than modern Asians and such are a stark contrast to the
Japanese who were Mongolian. The Ainu helped researchers learn more about the Japanese
and how the Ainu influenced Japanese culture, religion, and language.

17: Which factor is important to consider for the origin of Japanese religion? What does it tell
us about that origin?
Japan's geographical position is a major factor that influenced and developed the Japanese
religion. The turbulent and evolving Chinese society projected much of its influence and culture
onto Japan which led to Japan embracing the different cultures and religions, along with other
geographical influences, to form its unique religion.

Group 5
22: What is the historical and religious significance of the three sacred objects, namely the
magatama, swords, and mirrors?
These three sacred objects became the sacred regalia of the Japanese emperor. While their
religious significance is not quite known, their resemblance to the materials found on the Asian
mainland continent and their significance to the rising imperial tradition indicates the
mainland's rising influence and growing consolidation of religion around the emperor.

24: What do the “northern” and ”southern” hypotheses tell us about the origin of the
Japanese pantheon?
It is split between the concepts of vertical and horizontal cosmology. Southern hypotheses
claim horizontal cosmology and believe that the Kami came from a distant land or across the
sea and arrived in Japan, it also claims that the dead also leaves to go to the land from which
the Kami came. The northern hypotheses claim vertical cosmology and that the kami
descended from Heaven to lead Japan and that the dead ascend to heaven to be judged.
Opinion question (15 points):
• Answer only one of the sets of questions.

1: Do you think that the way Japanese religion is defined and practiced is inviting people to be
syncretistic and even superficial in their religious commitment? Justify your answer with
examples. Does it raise any issues at the personal level? At the social level?

2: Do you think that religion should have a clear system of beliefs, a set of rituals by which
people can distinguish themselves from others? Justify your answer with examples. Does it
raise any issues at the personal level? At the social level?

3: Can a religion that is tightly intertwined with culture be more oppressive than a religion that
clearly distinguishes itself from a given culture or social customs? Think in terms of the freedom
to commit to religion and the freedom to opt-out. Or in terms of the possibility to pursue
personal goals and express your individuality. Justify your answer with examples. Does it raise
any issues at the personal level? At the social level?

3.
Religion throughout human history has always played a significant part in forming and
developing societies across the world. Most if not all of history up until the 18 th century had
been significantly intertwined with religion and religious institutions and if history has taught us
anything it’s that religion, and any other doctrine/ideology, that is heavily intertwined with the
culture and customs of society can hold a firm grip on how that nation/culture will develop
further.

A religion that is tightly intertwined with culture can most definitely be more oppressive
than a religion that distinguishes itself from a given culture. This is because religion with deep
roots in specific cultures can project more influence and power in the daily lives of its followers
to the point of oppressing them if need be. This is not that easy to imitate with religions that
are separated from certain cultures or social customs because their followers and their culture
are not as connected and influenced by it. Certain religious institutions promote the concept of
intertwinement with cultures so that it would be harder for their followers to identify with their
culture without the presence of the religion. A great modern example of such a religion being
oppressive to its followers would be the Mormon Church. In the last ten years, more and more
individuals have come out with their experiences in trying to leave the Church. Utah, a U.S state
and capital of the Mormon Church, is widely known to have its culture and traditions to be
rooted in the Mormon Church and as such, the Church has a great influence on how people
treat others as well as how they behave within the community. Past members collectively call it
a cult and describe how hard it was for them to leave the Church and community behind them.

To sum up, cultures should be wary of becoming too intertwined with religion and
religious institutions to the point of not being able to identify themselves without it as this can
lead to undesirable changes in their customs.