Buddhism in Japan

The religion of Buddhism believes that all life is suffering. It also believes that you will be endlessly reborn in a manner that reflects the accumulation of all of the good and bad things that you do during life, called “Karma”. To end the cycle and have peace, Buddhism teaches that there is a chance to end eternal suffering, called “Enlightenment”. The first person ever to achieve enlightenment was a man, not a God, named Siddhartha, more commonly known as The Buddha. Formerly the prince of Nepal, Buddha dedicated his life to discovering the cause of human suffering. After sitting under a tree for seven weeks with no food, focusing on his meditation, he reached enlightenment, and spent his life teaching others about his ways.

Sixty-nine percent of people in Japan are Buddhist, which is currently the most followed religion in the country. First established in the sixth century CE, different types of Buddhism have developed through its extensive history, but the three most common types in Japan are: Theravada Buddhism, Mahayana Buddhism, and Vajrayana Buddhism. Theravada Buddhism focuses on the necessity of attaining salvation by yourself and only a few can achieve enlightenment. Mahayana Buddhism, in contrast, teaches that all people can attain salvation. Vajrayana Buddhism believes that enlightenment is obtainable in one lifetime.

Buddhism reached Japan through a trade route spanning through China and Korea into Japan. The religion traveled along this trade route from Korea in the sixth century and by the seventh century, it had become deeply established in Japan. By this time, there had been many beautiful Buddhist temples created, icons crafted, and priests teaching in Japan.

Before Buddhism came to Japan, Shinto was the main religion. These practices eventually came to exist alongside each other, and today, seventy percent of people in Japan continue to follow the Shinto religion, while many also engage in Buddhist practices. The merging of these two religions was a large shift in the lives of the people of Japan. Many clans had different opinions on the matter of whether to encourage the spread of Buddhism in their country or to refuse it. Eventually, many people in Japan began to follow both Shinto and Buddhism, commonly being raised with Shinto practices but later incorporating Buddhism into their lives.

Japan is known for its beautiful buildings and architecture, including the Buddhist temples and monasteries. The four leading styles are: Wayō, Daibutsuyō, Zenshūyō, and Setchūyō. Wayō styles are generally minimalistic and tend to use more natural elements. The Daibutsuyō style was inspired by Song Dynasty architecture and includes a lot of woodwork. Zenshūyō structures have a very specific style and include curved roofs and pointed windows. Finally, the Setchūyō style incorporates details from the other three styles.

Today, in Japan, Buddhism is practiced by visiting temples, meditating, worshipping, and praying. Buddhist ideas such as mindfulness continue to be practiced today. Buddhist rituals also take place for weddings and funerals, which are most commonly held at a Buddhist temple. Though there have been struggles with the aging population of Buddhist practitioners and the coexistence struggles between Shinto and Buddhism, ultimately Buddhism is a beautiful religion that teaches the importance of good deeds and peace.