Shinbutsu Shugo Research Papers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

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Benzaiten is originated from the Indian riverine goddess Sarasvatī, patron of knowledge and eloquence, who arrived in Japan through buddhism in the 7th or 8th century. Japanese merged her with indigenous serpent gods, and at the same time... more

Benzaiten is originated from the Indian riverine goddess Sarasvatī, patron of knowledge and eloquence, who arrived in Japan through buddhism in the 7th or 8th century. Japanese merged her with indigenous serpent gods, and at the same time with Indian nāgas, both associated with water, fertility and abundance. This process not only turned the goddess into the patron of wealth and fortune, but also made her into one of the important gods in esoteric buddhism, which assigned a special symbolic meaning to her. One of the texts, which help to understand this symbolism is Keiran shūyōshū, written by tendai monk Kōshū in the 14. century. The text contain many references on Benzaiten as the embodiment of non-duality, a mediator between sacred and mundane world, and also as a key figure in transforming potencially dangerous, wordly impulses. This practice can be traced back to one of the most important religious notions in medieval Japanese buddhism, original enlightenment, which was sometimes symbolized by the snake.

• • by
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  • Japanese Buddhism, Shinbutsu Shugo, Japanese tendai buddhism

In this chapter, my main aim is to offer some evidence for the fact that during the early Edo period, there actually existed a Shinto paradigm different from honji suijaku, while, at the same time, medieval forms of belief in the kami... more

In this chapter, my main aim is to offer some evidence for the fact that during the early Edo period, there actually existed a Shinto paradigm different from honji suijaku, while, at the same time, medieval forms of belief in the kami continued to exist. Of course, “non-honji suijaku” conceptions of the kami had been developed already in the medieval period, for instance in the form of Watarai or Yoshida Shinto. But these were secret teachings for specialists, unknown to the common people. The scatteredreligious incidents from the Edo period discussed in this essay indicate, however, that in contrast to previous times, Buddhist and non-Buddhist forms of kami worship were at this time quite commonly regarded as different forms of Shinto. This implies that Shinto as an independent religion had become a conceivable option, no matter whether people favoured it or not. As I will explain in more detail below, this perception of Shinto is intimately connected with the rise of Yoshida Shinto; but at the same time it developed in directions that were not at all intended or envisaged by the Yoshida.

• • by Bernhard Scheid
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  • Japanese Studies, Japanese Religions, Japanese History, Japanese Intellectual History