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SankyoThe three great religions of Japan are:
ShintoismNational religion of Japan. Literally, Shinto means "Way of the Spirits." Properly speaking, Shintoism is not a religion: it has no dogma, no moral code nor sacred book, and really consists in a somewhat confused mixture of the veneration of ancestors and nature worship. The absence of a code of morals is accounted for by the innate perfection of the Japanese people, who descending from kami "gods," have no evil inclinations to overcome like the Chinese and the Western nations, and whose manners and customs never need reform. The Shinto mythology mentions a first god Ame-no-minakanushi "Lord of the Middle of Heaven" who remained motionless in the center of the universe at the time of the creation, or who, according to others, was the first born at Takama-ga-hara "Plain of Heaven." After him come Takamimusubi, Kamimusubi, Umashiashikabi-hiko, Kunitokotachi, Kunisatsuchi, Toyokunnu; then Uichini and Suichini, Tsunukui and Ikukui, Otonochi and Otomabé, Mototaru and Kashikoné, and finally Izanagi and Izanami, the two that created Japan and an infinite number of gods. Of them were born Amaterasu-o-mikami, Tsukiyomi no mikoto, and Susano-o no mikoto. Amaterasu sent her grandson Ninigi no mikoto to rule over Japan. He is the great-grandfather of Jimmu-tenno, first Emperor. Shintoism has personified all the forces and all the phenomena of nature, and sought to render them propitious; whence, the gods of the wind, of the sea, of the mountains, of epidemics, etc., it even adds to them the gods of food, of the kitchen, of the hearth, etc. In the beginning, there was no other temple but the Imperial Palace, a very rudimentary construction, not differing from the common huts of the people except in size. The ceremonies consisted especially in purifications and ablutions. The temple of Isé was the first erected outside of the Palace, and an Imperial princess had to watch over the three treasures, the mirror, the sword and the jewel, transmitted by Amaterasu to her descendants. Shintoism, as a national and religious ceremonial, remained in this state of simplicity till the introduction of Buddhism in 552. It was soon supplanted by the new religion which brought more profound metaphysics and a higher moral code as also a more solemn ritual. Some conservatives tried to uphold the ancient institutions, but they had to give way to the bonzes when they established the Ryobu-shinto, and from that moment, if we except a few ceremonies peculiar to the Palace and the great temples of Ise and Izumo, the two cults were merged into one. This state of affairs continued to the 18th century, when the works of Kamo Mabuchi, Motoori Norinaga, Hirata Atsutané, etc., brought about a reaction in favor of the national religion and against Buddhism and Confucianism which were of foreign origin. Shintoism is divided into ten sects or branches, which differ only in a few details of ceremony, their universal moral being comprised in this only precept: "Follow the impulse of your nature and obey your Emperor." BuddhismThe doctrine of Buddha, or Buddhism, which is also called Butsudo "Way of Buddha," Buppo "Law of Buddha." Shaka (557-477 B.C.), first preached this religion and confined himself to diffuse it by word of mouth; later on his disciples put down in writing the teachings of their master, as far at least, as they remembered them: hence came a great number of books (sutras: Japanese, keiten). As the doctrines exposed in these different works, were far from being identical, there came into existence numerous sects claiming to be supported by the authority of the sutra. Shortly after Shaka's death, his disciples were divided into two great schools: the Mahayana (daijo, great vehicle), and the Hinayana (shojo, small vehicle). The first known as the northern or Chinese Buddhism; the second as the southern, or Siamese and Ceylonese Buddhism. As Chinese and Korean bonzes brought their doctrine to Japan, Japanese Buddhism belongs principally to the northern school. In 552, the King of Kudara (Korea) sent Buddhist statues and books as a present to the Emperor Kinmei. Two years later, Tonei and Doshin came to this country. They were the first bonzes that Japan had ever seen, and began at once to preach their religion. They found a powerful protector in the person of Soga no Inamé, who built the first temple (Mukuhara-dera, or Kogen-ji) at his residence. But they also met with resolute adversaries, such as Mononobé no Okoshi, Nakatomi no Kamako, etc., who pretended that the admission of a new religion would be a gross insult to the Shinto gods, the creators and protectors of the land. Hence there arose a strife between the two parties which lasted for 35 years, i.e., until the triumph of Buddhism in 587. As the new doctrine was supported by prince Shotoku-taishi, it made rapid progress, and shortly after his death, many sects made their appearance one after another. They were: Jojitsu and Sanron (625), Hosso (653), Kusha (660), Kegon (739), and Ritsu (754). These are the six sects of the Nara era. After them came the three sects of the Heiankyo "Kyoto Era": Tendai (806), Shingon (806), and Yuzu-nenbutsu (1123). Finally the Kamakura Period saw five others coming into existence; they were: Jodo (1174), Zen (1191), Shin (1224), Nichiren (1253) and Ji (1275). Of these sects, three: Sanron, Jojitsu, and Kusha, have disappeared from Japan long ago; most of the others are divided into several branches. Owing to the skill of the bonzes and the diffusion of the Ryobu-Shinto, the two cults, Shintoism and Buddhism, lived in harmony with each other, and ministers of both religions could be seen altering celebrating their ceremonies in the same temples. ConfucianismConfucius (Japanese: Koshi, 551-479 B.C.), as it is well known, did not pretend to found a religion; he laid down a code of morals based on filial piety and submission to authority. This system, developed and explained, has become a collection of maxims relating to all the acts of life, complicating them by a minute, affected ceremonial. Confucianism was introduced into Japan by Wani and Ajiki in 285, and, on account of its many points of resemblance with Shintoism, then alone practiced, was received without difficulty. But after the introduction of Buddhism, it lost favor, and did not rise again until the 17th century, when Ieyasu, for the first time, caused the Chinese classics to be printed in Japan. From that time, it was taught by such masters as Fujiwara Seika, Hayashi Doshun, Ito Jinsai, etc., became the code of the samurai, and had a deep influence on Japanese society during the Tokugawa Shogunate.
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