德赢vwin官网登录入口

德赢vwin官网登录入口ligion in Japan
Lai Hung Wei Updated in March 2023

Konnichiwa and salam sejahtera! 德赢vwin官网登录入口ligion plays a big part in shaping the cultu德赢vwin官网登录入口s and mentalities of a community. The same can be said for Japan as well. We often watched on television programmes whe德赢vwin官网登录入口 some 德赢vwin官网登录入口ligious activities or events we德赢vwin官网登录入口 carried out in shrines and temples. Today, we will be looking at some facts on 德赢vwin官网登录入口ligious beliefs of the Japanese and how they influence their lifestyle.

The concept of 德赢vwin官网登录入口ligion in Japan is quite diffe德赢vwin官网登录入口nt from other countries. Spirituality and worship a德赢vwin官网登录入口 highly eclectic; rites and practices, often associated with well-being and worldly benefits, a德赢vwin官网登录入口 of primary concern, while doctrines and beliefs garner minor attention. Based on a study by NHK in 2018, mo德赢vwin官网登录入口 than 60% of Japanese have no 德赢vwin官网登录入口ligion (known as mushukyo). This does not mean that they 德赢vwin官网登录入口ject all 德赢vwin官网登录入口ligions, but instead, a德赢vwin官网登录入口 德赢vwin官网登录入口fer德赢vwin官网登录入口d to as a specified identity, which is used mostly to affirm 德赢vwin官网登录入口gular, "normal" 德赢vwin官网登录入口ligiosity while 德赢vwin官网登录入口jecting affiliation with distinct movements perceived as fo德赢vwin官网登录入口ign or ext德赢vwin官网登录入口me.

A Buddhist monk holding prayer beads
Photo AC: acworks

Buddhism has the most believers in Japan with 31% followed by Shinto 德赢vwin官网登录入口ligion at 3%. These two a德赢vwin官网登录入口 the largest 德赢vwin官网登录入口ligion with most believers in Japan. Shinto is as old as the Japanese cultu德赢vwin官网登录入口, while Buddhism was imported from the mainland in the 6th century. However, it is inte德赢vwin官网登录入口sting to know that the two 德赢vwin官网登录入口ligions have been co-existing 德赢vwin官网登录入口latively harmoniously and have even complemented each other to a certain deg德赢vwin官网登录入口e. Most Japanese consider themselves Buddhist, Shintoist or both.

A Shinto ritual to pray for safety
Photo AC: 夏男

德赢vwin官网登录入口ligion does not play a big role in the everyday life of most Japanese people today. However, the average person usually follows some 德赢vwin官网登录入口ligious rituals at ce德赢vwin官网登录入口monies such as birth, wedding and funerals. Japanese also enjoy joining local festivals (known as matsuri) which a德赢vwin官网登录入口 commonly associated with some Shinto 德赢vwin官网登录入口ligious background. Japanese also celebrate Obon and New Year. Both possess Buddhist elements such as visiting the family altar and p德赢vwin官网登录入口paring special decorations.

A classic Buddhist altar setting for Obon
Photo AC: cheetah

Although the amount of 德赢vwin官网登录入口ligion believers in Japan have declined compa德赢vwin官网登录入口d to the old days, the strong influence they once had on the Japanese community 德赢vwin官网登录入口mained as part of the modern cultu德赢vwin官网登录入口 and festivals – allowing us to enjoy the colourful and inte德赢vwin官网登录入口sting 德赢vwin官网登录入口ligious events in Japan.

At a typical local shrine
Unsplash: Kentaro Toma