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Mar 17, 2020 · In Japan, Shinto and Buddhism are the most popular religions and each religion has a significant impact on how certain Japanese individuals conceptualize dying, death, and grief. In general, death is understood as an inevitable experience, with high involvement of the family during the dying process, as well as the belief in the afterlife after ...
- Cremation
Having a doctor give you a medical note stating the cause of...
- Cremation
- What Happens After Death in Shinto? – Understanding The Japanese Afterlife
- Festivals and Celebrations Associated with The Afterlife
- Final Thoughts
The Importance Of Kami In Shintoism
In Shintoism, there are no gods like there are in other religions. Instead, those who follow this way of life believe that there are kami, or spiritual energies. These kami reside in everything, from humans and animals to mountains, rivers, and waterfalls. In humans, the kami is thought to be weakened when inside the human body. When someone is dying, the spirit is able to regain its powers and leaves the deceased. At this point, the spirit will interact with the world in different ways. Howe...
The Afterlife In Shintoism
Concepts of the afterlife have changed a lot over the years. When Buddhism came to Japan, a lot changed. Cremation became popular, and Jodo and Jigoku appeared. These are the “Pure Land of the West”, and a unique Japanese hell relating to ice and fire. In Japan itself, there are now thought to be a number of entrances to Jigoku. These include locations such as Beppu, Noboribetsu, Mount Osore, and Mount Tate. Why? These areas are unusual in many respects, and are either hot water springs, or v...
Mourning
Depending on the location and sect of Shintoism, periods of mourningwill vary. Mourning is typically seen as the expected response to the loss of a loved one. It is often done in a stoic manner, and is supposed to be a time of reflection on life. Family and friends will typically visit the crematorium or mausoleum every week most of the time. These people will bring incenseand flowers as gifts. A lot of people will also set up shrines in their homes to remember their lost loved ones. They wil...
Obon
The Obon Festival is a beautiful summer festival that is all about honoring the dead. It doesn’t matter if the dead are close relatives or ancestors from a thousand years ago. While this is technically a Buddhist celebration, it has been integrated in Japan for over 500 years. It takes place over three days, and is much like Mexico’s Day of the Dead. During this time, the kami of passed loved ones are able to visit their descendants. There are variations of the Bon Odori dance, with every reg...
Shogatsu
This is the Japanese New Year. While this isn’t a celebration of the dead, the Japanese will pray for good fortune for the upcoming year. This welcomes the kami of all ancestors, and also the harvest deity.
After death, the kami, or spirit, that has been trapped inside the body, will be released. This spirit will then be able to move onto one of the “otherworlds”, where they will reside. They will be able to move from their otherworld to the world of the living easily after passing, and they can visit their loved ones. It’s important to note that Shin...
Shinigami (Japanese: 死神, lit. ' kami of death') are kami that invite humans toward death in certain aspects of Japanese religion and culture. Shinigami have been described as monsters, helpers, and creatures of darkness. Shinigami are used for tales and religions in Japanese culture. [1] [2]
Jun 29, 2019 · Having set the context of death rituals and death care in contemporary Japan, I would like to return to the question I was asked after my talk on Buddhist conceptions of death last week: What would Dōgen say about euthanasia and similar moral dilemmas regarding death care.
It may seems perplexing to outsiders how, or even why the people of Japan practice both Shinto and Buddhism. There are probably many different theories that could serve as answers to this conundrum, but I think the simplest answer is that while Shinto deals with life, Buddhism deal with death.
May 12, 2016 · Poetry and the death poem existed in Japan long before Buddhism, but it brought with it a new and lasting significance, explains Professor Stuart D. B Picken in Part 9 of his “Death in the Japanese Tradition” monograph.
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Apr 22, 2020 · Japanese beliefs about death can vary depending on several factors, including age and religion. That said, the Japanese traditionally believe that a human consists of two parts, a soul and a body. Thus, death isn’t necessarily the end of one’s existence. It instead marks the moment when the soul departs.
