Download Major religions in Japan

Name: __________________________
A Journey to Japan
Japan Geography
Japan is an archipelago or a series of islands. It is only slightly smaller than the state of California.
Nearly 75% of its terrain or land is rugged and mountainous and virtually uninhabitable.
Approximately 15% is devoted to agriculture, leaving only about 10% for people to actually live
on. Almost 126 million people live in Japan, nearly half the population of the entire United States.
Amazingly long and skinny, there is only 200 miles that extends at Japan’s widest point and nearly
1800 miles from north to south. The result is an amazing range of weather conditions, from
snowbound winters in the north to sub-tropic summers in the south.
Task: Using textbook pg 221 label & lightly shade China, Korea, and Japan each a different color.
Also label the cities of Nara and Heian-Kyo
As seen on the map of Japan, there are four main islands of Japan which are; Hokkaido, Honshu,
Kyushu and Shikoku and over 3900 smaller islands. Mountains, rivers and seas break up the
country into hundreds of small regions and different climates making the land infinitely varied.
The waters that surrounded Japan protected it from invaders. Unlike China and India, foreign
armies never conquered Japan. However, cultural diffusion did occur. Japan received many ideas
from Korea and China. The Japanese adapted these ideas to fit their own culture. Thus, while the
Japanese borrowed many ideas from other cultures, they still maintained their own unique
culture.
Japan is also mountainous. While the mountains are not high enough to separate the people of
Japan, the mountains make farming difficult. Japan has little arable or good for farming land. In
addition, Japan lacks many natural resources. As a result of this lack of natural resources, the
Japanese have had to conquer other lands or trade to acquire these natural resources.
Questions:
1: Describe the archipelago of Japan:
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2. Draw conclusions: Describe three ways in which the geography of Japan shaped Japan’s early society.
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China & Korea Influences
Because of Japan’s nearness to China, it was greatly influenced by Chinese ideas, culture, and
technology. Scholars and merchants brought Chinese culture to Japan, including their method of
writing, Confucianism, Buddhism, which had spread from India to China. Chinese culture
influenced Japanese styles and tastes in music, art, pottery, and cooking.
Like the Chinese emperor, the Japanese emperor claimed absolute power and built a capital city.
However, Japanese culture was never an exact copy of China. The Japanese rejected several
Chinese practices. For example, the Japanese never adopted the Chinese idea of the Mandate of
Heaven or the belief that the gods chose the emperor but could also remove a corrupt emperor.
The Japanese, unlike the Chinese, believed that the emperor was directly descended from the Sun
Goddess. The Japanese had one dynasty of emperors due to this belief. The Japanese also had a
unique religious tradition known as Shintoism or the worship of spirits found in nature.
Questions:
3. Why was Japan influenced by China?
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4. How did the Chinese influence the Japanese?
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5. What aspect of Chinese culture did the Japanese reject?
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Shintoism & Buddhism in Japan
Shintoism
The early Japanese believed that humans, animals, plants, rocks, and rivers all have their own
spirits. This idea is known as animism (A • nuh • mih • zuhm). People believed they could call on
the kami (KAH • mih), or the nature spirits for help. To show respect to the kami, the Japanese
worshipped at holy places. Early Japanese beliefs developed into a religion called Shinto. The word
Shinto means "way of the spirits." Shinto later became linked to Japan's rulers. Their duties
included taking part in Shinto rituals to ensure the well-being of Japan. The practice of Shinto
affects the Japanese people today. It has contributed to the Japanese love of nature. It also has
influenced their striving for simplicity, cleanliness, and good manners.
6. What is animism?________________________________________________________________________
7. How does Shintoism affect people’s views about nature? How does it affect their lifestyles?
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8. In a single sentence, describe the main idea of Shintoism.
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In the 6th century around 550 CE a delegation sent by a Korean prince arrived at the court of the
Emperor of Japan. The Koreans brought with them Buddhist sutras, an image of the Buddha, and a
letter from the Korean prince praising the dharma (teachings of the Buddha). This was the official
introduction of Buddhism to Japan.
9. How do you think Buddhism spread from China to Korea?_______________________________________
10. What can you recall about Buddhism in China?
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11. How was Buddhism brought to Japan?
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Under the shoguns( military governors) , religion influenced every part of daily life in Japan. Most
Japanese came to believe in both Shinto and Buddhism. They worshipped at Shinto shrines and at
Buddhist temples. To them, each religion met different needs. Shinto was concerned with daily
life. It linked the Japanese to nature and their homeland. Buddhism promised spiritual rewards to
the good. It prepared people for the life to come. In shogun Japan, religious ideas inspired many
Japanese to write poems and plays and produce paintings. They also built shrines and temples.
Mahayana Buddhism, which teaches that the Buddha is a god, began in India and spread to China
and Korea. By the time Buddhism reached Japan, it had formed into many different sects
(SEHKTS), or small groups. One of the major sects in Japan was Zen. Buddhist monks brought Zen
to Japan from China during the 1100s. Zen taught that people could find inner peace through selfcontrol and a simple way of life. Followers of Zen disciplined their bodies through martial arts
(MAHR • shuhl), or sports that involved combat and self-defense.
Zen Buddhists also practiced meditation (meh • duh • TAY • shuhn). A person who meditated sat
cross-legged and motionless. The person tried to clear the mind of all worldly thoughts and
desires. Meditation was considered a way for people to relax and find inner peace.
Major religions in Japan
Using the information, fill in each column with information about each religion, its core beliefs, and
common religious practices.
Shintoism
( include at least 4)
Mahayana Buddhism
(include 2-3)
Zen Buddhism
( include at least 4)
12. Which religion is indigenous, or the native religion, of Japan?___________________________________
13. Why were Buddhism & Shintoism able to co-exist in Japan?
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14.In 2-3 sentences, compare the major features of Shinto (Japan’s indigenous religion) with Japanese
Buddhism.
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