With the advanced of technology in current Japan, the role of religion has change dramatically, it is not only a simply faith in Japanese heart but also a consuetude carry out in daily life.
However, it is not easy for people to know all changes of religion from ancient time to nowadays. This paper endeavor to sort out the main changes of traditional religion to new religion and new new religion base on the convention, spirit, role of ancestor and the place of Japan.To do this, I will first briefly introduce the background of traditional religion and the main state of traditional religion in Japan; and then I will explain the main characteristics of new religion and new new religion; after the explanation of both traditional and new religion, I will analyze the change spirit and role of ancestor; lastly, base on the discussion of change in religion, I will give some recommendations and personal opinions to conclusion the paper. Traditional religion (1603-1868):Traditional Japan religion can simply classify into three categories: Confucianism, Buddhism and Shintoism. Either of them has the same aim peace but they explain in different ways.
Firstly, Confucianism is a new philosophy which encouraged assisting in the political, educational and social realms. [1] It is mainly a self-discipline and family oriented, Confucianism is focus on the relationship between people such as love between brother and sister, harmony between husband and wife, filial piety between mother and children and loyalty between ruler and subject.In fact, as a traditional religion Confucianism is much trend to a belief and concept in Japanese’s heart to make the world more harmony. [2] Secondly, Shintoism as a traditional culture of Japan means “the way of the gods” and has follower approximately 51% of the population. People treat Shinto as ancestor, family and nation of Japanese, because of Shinto originally respect for nature and particular sacred sites which used to worship the sun, rock formations, trees and even sounds.
All of the activity associated with a deity or Kami, and a complex polytheistic religion developed. [3] This is very important in ancient Japan which can bless people in peace and out of pain. However, Shintoism is not only reflecting the way of god, but also a symbol of ancient and family in ancient Japan. Thirdly, Buddhism is as a religion concerned with the concerns, needs and worries of ordinary people, especially in the area of faith, intercession and the relationship between the living and the spirits of the dead which has make upon the lives of the Japanese.However, Buddhism began in India which spread from China to Japan.
Zen is the main concept in Japanese which means “meditation”; it is a way of focusing the thoughts which emphasizes “self-power” and its importance in the quest for enlightenment of salvation through “other-power”. [5] Usually people learn the way of Buddhist to sit in a quiet place and think the life. The three traditional religions lead Japan into a peaceful and harmony life, it is a build-up for new religion development.New religion (1850-1960): Since the early nineteenth century, there are a lot of religious developed in Japan in a constant process of flux, growth, decline and renewal. The transition period from the Tokugawa to Meiji regimes, trend an upheavals in the mid-nineteenth century. The economic goes down and there are more social crisis and unrest came out.
[6] The rise of new religion developed rapidly during 1850 to 1960 as stimulated by these social factors.However, new religion environment taking lots elements from the various interpenetrating traditions, Shinto, Buddhist and folk, that framework of Japanese religions. It has four main characteristics: firstly, new religion include the tradition religion concept whom were suppressed during the Meiji period; secondly, use modern media promote the religion such as television, magazines, newspapers and pamphlets;[7] thirdly, taking influence from west country and absorbing them to Japanese system; fourthly, new religion also considered as non-mainstream religions which commonly know as folk religion.Base on the development of new religion, it is easy to find out that new religion are not really new at all, they are new because they represent a contrast to the established religions of Japan such as Confucianism, Buddhism and Shintoism, base on these main stream religious structure come out the new religion.
[8] In order to promote the new religion, university campuses are the first play to attract more followers, nevertheless, knocking on doors, spread leaflets at stations and shopping mall, and mass media is also important way for new religion spread. [9]There is an example of new religion Agonshu which developed by Kiriyama Seiyu in 1954,[10] he found a new belief system on esoteric Buddhist doctrine which explained that everyone should hard work to realize advanced in their life. It is a combination of spiritual beliefs with tradition religion and high technology together. However, new religion is the improvement and the improvement of traditional religion which trend the society in the right track and wish Japan become better, but new new religion is another ways of religion which more extreme and hard for people to accept.
New new religion (1960- ): New new religion in Japan is another extreme aspect of religion which leading by Aum Skinrikyo. It is a cult which can consider as terrorist organization in Japanese. This group was founded in 1984 by Shoko Asahara and gain international attention after 1995 Tokyo subway sarin attack. [11] As the name of “Aum Shinrikyo” it is mean the universe which respect the truth of religion and consider themselves are the Christ of the world.In fact, there are five main characteristic of new new religion (Aum Shinrikyo): firstly, the groups absorb different social classes, especially, include the elite of Japanese; secondly, the followers in new new religion can belong to various religions and sects but in the same objective that make the world better (in an extreme way); thirdly, the group combined with advanced technology and promote particularly in Japanese youth; fourthly, the group has done some egregious things such as Aum attack in 1995 with lots of supporter; fifthly, responding to social unease of the time such as war, weapon, apocalypse and terrorist incidents.
Base on the five elements of new new religion, it is reflect the core purpose is doing some extreme events to achieve the final peace of the world. Actually, new new religion is going out of mainstream religion which become a terrorist organization that threat the safe of Japan. Base on the analysis of traditional religion, new religion and new new religion, it is easy to find out, there are two kinds of religion in modern Japan new religion and new new religion. However, the main changes of religion from ancient Japan to nowadays have basically two aspects.Firstly, in modern times, Japanese society has become very secular, and traditional religion in general has become less important. This is because people treat the religion as a culture convention rather than be an adherent.
Such as lots of no religion Japanese take part in ritual and customs derived from religious traditions. Some Japanese may follow the doctrine of Shinto that new birth baby should have celebration when age of one month, third, fifth, and seventh birthdays and age twenty.Some Japanese follow Christian wedding ceremonies and some Japanese may take the doctrine of “die Buddhist” that involved in Buddhist rites and call for the services of a Buddhist priest. [13] This is the main change of Japanese religion from tradition religion to new religion which has changed in the thought of generation but not change in the spirit of Japanese.
They treat religion as spirit of life custom, which mean not only religious adherent can follow the doctrine of religion but all the Japanese.Secondly, the development of new new religion which make people confused and hard for government to face and solved. In my opinion, the development of new new religion has mainly three reasons, first of all, the shadow of world war two which has influence the confidence of people in Aum group; secondly, psychohistorical Dislocation which mean Aum has experienced in the last century and gain psychological upheaval than any other on earth; thirdly, Japanese roots which always want to be the best; as prewar Bushido spirit is an example to describe this.This is also called Asahara’s spiritual which focus on violent urged within his own society and culture. Therefore, the three main elements cause the development of new new religion and have dramatic change not only on the notion of spirit from traditional religions, but also change the place of Japanese, this is very dangerous for Japan to develop technology in the future.
Base on the analysis of religion in Japan, I find that there are two mainstream in nowadays which are new religion c and new new religion (Aum Shinrikyo ). However, I recommend Japan take more consideration on the new religion that government can promote the benefit of new religion to citizen and encourage people join the part of new religion; this way can decrease the followers of new new religions.In conclusion, religion in Japan has thousand years history but changes a lot during the time. All the aim of Japanese religions is peaceful and harmony society but in represent in different way and doctrines. Three traditional religions Confucianism, Buddhism and Shintoism are the root or original source of new religion, but new religion seems more developed and suitable for Japanese society nowadays.
However, after 1960 new new religion which can only say Aum Shinrikyo is another extreme thought religion which influences Japan a lot. Both the change from traditional religion to new religion or new new religion are indicate the advance of Japanese technology, in order to adapt the high speed development of society some change on religion is essential and important. No matter the change is good or bad, we need take time to know more about the new religion(Agonshu) and reject threats(Aum shinriyko).
