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Shinto and Buddhism are Japan's two major religions. They have been
co-existing for several centuries and have even complemented each other
to a certain degree. Most Japanese consider themselves Buddhist,
Shintoist or both.
Religion does not play a big role in the everyday life of most Japanese
people today. The average person typically follows the religious rituals
at ceremonies like birth, weddings and funerals, may visit a shrine or
temple on New Year and participates at local festivals (matsuri), most
of which have a religious background.
The history of religion in Japan is a long process of mutual influence
between religious traditions. In contrast to Europe, where Christianity
overwhelmed local pagan traditions, the indigenous religion Shinto has
continued as a part of the lives of the people from the earliest days of
an organized Japanese state up to modern times.
When Buddhism was introduced to Japan in the sixth century, Shinto and
Buddhist beliefs began to interact. This is the defining characteristic
of Japanese religion. The most striking example of this interaction is
the theory of honji suijaku, in which Shinto kami were seen as the
incarnations of Buddhist deities.
Confucianism and Taoism are two other religious "imports" that have
played important roles in Japanese society over a period of more than
1,000 years. Confucian precepts had a major influence on Japanese
ethical and political philosophy in the formative period of the Japanese
state (the sixth to nineth centuries), and again in the Edo period
(1600–1868). Harder to trace than that of Confucianism, the influence of
religious Taoism in Japan can be found in the use of the Chinese
calendar and in popular beliefs such as those concerning fortune-telling
and auspicious directions.
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Japan Regions