Temple? Shrine? Shrine? Temple? There are few greater perplexing questions for travelers to Japan than how on earth (or in heaven 🙂 ) to refer to the myriad religious structures dotting the landscape.
The word Shinto, when translated poetically, means “the way of the gods”. It’s Japan’s native religion, though not an exclusive one. Many Japanese claim to be both Shinto and Buddhist (the second major religion of the nation), oftening citing they are “born Shinto but will die Buddhist” (more on that later).
Shinto has no true founder or prophet, no holy book, no overarching church and no real spiritual teachers aside from a loose confederation of priests. The only buildings associated with Shinto are shrines, both regular and portable (called mikoshi). Not sure if you’re standing at the entrance to a Shinto shrine or a Buddhist temple? A shrine is entered by a torii gate, like this:
Inside, visitors to a shrine can clean their hands and their mouths (to purify actions and words) at a temizu, or hand washing station. Prayers are offered at the main part of the shrine. If a bell is available, ring it to alert the shrine’s god. A 5 yen coin tossed into the offering box doesn’t hurt if you’re asking the god for a favor. Bow twice, clap twice and offer a silent intercession. When you’re finished bow once more and you’re done.
So, who are the “gods” in question in Shinto? The Japanese refer to them as “kami” – they can be anything from the spirit of a natural force (wind, water, waves, trees) to the spirit of a deceased human (a former Emperor, a man or woman who did good works in his life, or no one in particular). Until the end of World War II, even the current Emperor was considered a kami who descended from heaven to live amongst the people.
While kami reside mostly in shrines, they can also be found throughout nature, in a gnarled tree, a flowing river or a flowering bush. Most natural objects that house the spirit of a “kami” are marked with a woven straw rope (called a shimenawa) – the rope is just a boundary that indicates a spirit resides in the object encircled. A kami may also leave his shrine in the case of a festival or special event – in this case, he “rides” in a portab’e shrine, or a mikoshi. A ceremony is usually held to officially transfer the spirit from one residence to another, even if only for a few hours.
What do I mean by being “born in Shinto and dying a Buddhist”? Many Japanese will celebrate births, blessings and marriages at a shrine but the traditions of death and burial align more closely with the Buddhist faith.
Have a favorite shrine in Japan? Share your picks in the comments.