land of the rising sun - Japan - culturally stands apart from the rest of the world.Being a relatively small territory, Japan has managed to create its own unique style, its tradition, not only similar, not only in the West but also to the nearby eastern states.Until now, for the vast number of people mystery remains the religious tradition of the Japanese and the Japanese gods.
religious world of Japan
religious paintings of Japan consists mainly of two components - Buddhism and Shintoism.If the first of these Russian-speaking readers something else may be aware, the traditional Japanese Shinto is often a complete mystery.And it is from this tradition originate almost all traditionally revered Japanese gods and demons.
It is said that the formal Buddhism and Shintoism itself associates the vast majority of the Japanese population - up to ninety-plus percent, according to some studies.And almost all of them at once profess both religions.This is a characteristic of Japanese religion - it tends to be syncretic fusion of different traditions, combining various elements of both practice and doctrine.For example, the Japanese gods derived from Shinto, Buddhist metaphysics were accepted, continued in their worship of Buddhist religious context.
Shinto - the way of the gods
necessary to speak briefly about the traditions that gave birth to the Japanese pantheon of gods.The first of these, of course, is Shinto, which means "way of the gods."Its history goes back in history so far that today it is impossible to establish unequivocally any time, nor the nature of its origin.The only thing that can be stated with absolute certainty - is that Shinto was born and developed in Japan, while remaining inviolable and unique tradition, up to the Buddhist expansion, without experience of no effect.Shinto mythology is very distinctive, unique cult and world view quite difficult for deeper understanding.
In general Shinto centered on the worship of kami - the soul or spiritual essence of some different things and phenomena of nature, places and non-living (in the European sense) things.Kami can be malicious and benevolent, more or less strong.Spirits patrons genus or city too kami.This, as well as the worship of ancestral spirits is similar to the traditional Shinto animism and shamanism, inherent in almost all cultures and pagan religions at a certain stage of development.Kami - a Japanese gods.Names are often quite complex and sometimes very voluminous - up to a few lines of text.
Japanese Buddhism
Doctrine Indian prince in Japan has found fertile ground and deeply taken root.Since VI century, when Buddhism entered Japan, he found many patrons in the face of powerful and influential aristocrats of Japanese society.But after three hundred years, he has managed to achieve the position of state religion.
By its nature, the Japanese Buddhism is non-uniform, not a single system or school, but divided into many different sects.But it is still possible to postulate the involvement of most of them to the direction of Zen Buddhism.
Historically, Buddhism is characterized by religious integration.In other words, if, for example, Christian or Islamic mission suggests that believers of one religion to another switch, the Buddhism does not enter into this kind of confrontation.The most common Buddhist practice and teachings of cash pouring into the cult, filling, buddiziruya it.This has happened with Hinduism in India, the Bon religion in Tibet, and many other religious schools, including Shintoism in Japan.Therefore, today it is difficult to answer unequivocally that represent Japanese gods and demons - whether Buddhist Bodhisattvas, or pagan nature spirits.
Influence of Buddhism to Shinto
From the middle of the first millennium, and especially from the IX century, Shinto began to experience strong influence of Buddhism.This led to what turned into a first kami-spirits protectors of Buddhism.Some of them have merged with the Buddhist saint, and was later proclaimed the doctrine that even the kami in need of salvation through the path of Buddhist practice.For Shintoism is unconventional ideas - from time immemorial it was no concept of salvation, sin.There was not even a fair presentation of good and evil.Serving kami, the gods caused the world to harmony, to beauty, to the awareness and development of a person who himself spiritual connection with the Divine, decide what is good and what is bad in every situation.The internal inconsistency of the two traditions has led to the fact that early on there was a movement for the purification of Shinto Buddhist borrowings.Attempt to reconstruct the original tradition ended with the so-called Emperor Meiji restoration in the XIX century, which divided Buddhism and Shintoism.
Supreme Japanese gods
Japanese mythology includes many stories about the deeds of the gods.The first of them there was a group of three kami called Takamagahara.It sintoistkaya trio included the supreme god Ame-no Minakanusi Kami, god power Takamimusuhi no Kami and god of birth Kamimusuhi no Kami.With the birth of heaven and earth for him to add two more kami - Umasi Ashikabi Hikoyi no Kami and Ame Tokotati but no Kami.This Pyateritsa deities called Koto Amatsukami and revered as a kind of supreme Shinto kami.Below them are located iererahii Japanese gods list is actually endless.On this subject in Japanese folklore there is even a saying that "Japan - a country of eight million gods."
Izanagi and Izanami
Immediately after Koto Amatsukami followed by seven generations of the Kami, of which the most revered last two - couple Izanagi and Izanami, who is credited with creating Oyasima - Japanese islands.They were the first of the kami who had the ability to give birth to new gods and gave birth to a lot of them.
Izanami - the goddess of life and death
All the phenomena of the world are subject to kami.And material things and immaterial phenomena - all run the influential Japanese gods.Death is also paid close attention to the divine character of the Japanese.For example, an interesting legend, which tells about the appearance in the world of death.According to her, Izanami died giving birth to her last son - god of fire Kagu-Tsuchi - and moved into the underworld.Izanagi followed her down, and is even trying to persuade to return.The wife asks only about the possibility of a rest before the journey and leaves the bedroom, asking her husband not to bother her.Izanagi violates request and finds in bed an ugly decomposed corpse of her former lover.Terrified, he runs upstairs, filled up the entrance with stones.Izanami, this act angered husband swears that he will avenge him, taking a thousand human souls in his kingdom every day.Thus, ironically, the Japanese gods of death begin their dynasty with the mother goddess, the great kami, gave all life.Izanagi himself returned to his seat and passed ritual purification after visiting the dead.
Japanese gods of war
When Izanami died giving birth to her last son, Izanagi went into a rage and killed him.Shinto myth says that as a result, came to light a few kami.One of them was Takemikadzuti - the god of the sword.Probably he is the first with whom originated the Japanese gods of war.Takemikadzuti, however, is not perceived as a warrior.He was closely associated it with a sword and embodies its sacred meaning, representing, so to speak, the soul of the sword, his idea.And as a consequence, Takemikadzuti contacted wars.Following Takemikadzuti kami related to fights and battles, it is the god Hachiman.This character works of old soldiers patronized.Once upon a time, in the era of the Middle Ages, he is also venerated as the patron of the samurai Minamoto clan.Then, his popularity grew, he began to patronize the samurai class as a whole, at the same time occupying a prominent place in the Shinto pantheon.Moreover, Hachiman acted as custodian of the imperial fortress and the emperor himself along with his family.
Patrons of happiness and luck
Japanese gods of happiness make up a group of seven kami called Sitifukudzin.Origin they rather late and are images processed by one of the monks on the material Buddhist and Taoist deities in mixture with traditional Japanese traditions.Actually, the Japanese gods of good luck - Daikoku and Ebisu only.The other five are imported or brought from outside, although perfectly accustomed to the Japanese culture.Today, each of the seven has its own sphere of responsibility and influence.
sun goddess
We can not say about one of the most important representatives of Japanese mythology - the goddess of the sun Amaterasu.The sun has always occupied an important position in the religious humanity because organically linked with life, light, heat, harvest.In Japan, it added to the belief that the emperor is literally a direct descendant of the goddess.
There Amaterasu from the left eye of Izanagi at the time when he made his purification.Along with her came to light a few kami.But two of them occupied a special place.Firstly, it Tsukuyomi - the moon-god, born out of the other eye.Secondly, Susanoo - the god of wind and sea.Thus, each of the trio received their inheritance.Further myths tell the expulsion of Susanoo.Japanese gods banished him for a number of serious misconduct in relation to his sister and father.
Amaterasu revered as the patroness of agriculture and silk production.But in later times it became identified with revered in Japan Buddha Vairocana.In fact, Amaterasu became head of the Japanese pantheon.
