- 12 Aug 2003
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Okay, for the past few weeks, I have been researching Japanese religion, and here is what I have hypothesized. Please read and correct, to see if I got anything wrong, and please answer my questions below. Arigatou! 
Okay, the majority of the Japanese population are non-religious. This does not mean that they are Atheists (like many Chinese) and have no religion, rather they do not spend a lot of time on religion. However, 84% of the Japanese adhere to two religions, Shinto and Buddhism.
Shinto has many variants. There is Imperial Shinto, which is only practiced by the Emperor and his family, there is Jinja Shinto (Shrine Shinto) which is the traditional form of Shinto and the largest (I'm not sure about this), and also Sect Shinto which itself has 13 variants.
Most Japanese Buddhists are of the Mahayana sect. However, the sub-sect is the problem.
I know that the first two types of Japanese Buddhism were Shingon and Tendai, both brought over from Korea and China, respectively. I know that there were also many forms of Buddhism that orignated in Nara, but a small minority practices this. Then, when the Emperor lost his power and the Hojo Regency in Kamakura gained power, I know that some new Buddhists sects originated (one of my question below) mainly Pure Land, Zen, and Nichiren.
I know Zen was brought from China and it has two main sub-sects. However, today, I read that only a short percentage of people practice Zen, mainly the rich.
Nichiren is also practiced widely, but it is very controversial and it has links to Soka Gakkai, the Komeito Party, and many traced it to the extremist group that attacked a Tokyo subway via gas in 1995.
Pure Land Buddhism, or Jodo, is confusing. I read that this was practiced by the majority, but I also read that Nichiren was. Also, I read about Jodo Shin Shu, or True Pure Land Buddhism, and this has gotten me even more confused.
Please check this, and if I have anything wrong tell me please. Then, please answer these loose ends that I have below. ^^ Thanks!
1: What Shinto sect is practiced by the majority of the population in Japan today?
2: What Buddhist sect is practiced by the majority of the population in Japan today?
3: Are the Buddhist sects that orignated under the Kamakura Bakufu in the 12th and 13th centuries (Zen, Pure Land, Nichiren) sects of Tendai or Shingon Buddhism? Or are they just sects of Mahayana Buddhism?
4: Is Soka Gakkai a sect of Nichiren?
5: What's the Japanese name for Pure Land Buddhism? What about True Pure Land?
5: Main question. Please answer, this is the most important one. Are Pure Land Buddhism (Jodo) and True Pure Land Buddhism (Jodo ShinShu) the same thing?
6: Main question. Please answer, one of the most important ones. Is True Pure Land Buddhism (Shin Shu) a sect of Pure Land Buddhism? or vice versa?
7: Main, please answer. Which sect, Pure Land Buddhism, or True Pure Land Buddhism, is practiced by the majority of the population in Japan, by the most people, and is most influential and popular?
8: Does Nichiren have sects? If so, which one is practiced by the majority?
9: Does Jinja Shinto itself have sects? If so, which one is practiced by most people?
10: Is Shinto itself a sect of a larger religion? I know it has sects, but is Shinto a sect of a larger religion?
11: I know Buddhism is a sect, but is it a sect of a larger religion? Also, is Buddhism a sect of Hinduism? 'Cause I know it began as a effort to reform Hinduism, but is Buddhism a sect of Hinduism?
Thanks for your patience!
Okay, the majority of the Japanese population are non-religious. This does not mean that they are Atheists (like many Chinese) and have no religion, rather they do not spend a lot of time on religion. However, 84% of the Japanese adhere to two religions, Shinto and Buddhism.
Shinto has many variants. There is Imperial Shinto, which is only practiced by the Emperor and his family, there is Jinja Shinto (Shrine Shinto) which is the traditional form of Shinto and the largest (I'm not sure about this), and also Sect Shinto which itself has 13 variants.
Most Japanese Buddhists are of the Mahayana sect. However, the sub-sect is the problem.
I know that the first two types of Japanese Buddhism were Shingon and Tendai, both brought over from Korea and China, respectively. I know that there were also many forms of Buddhism that orignated in Nara, but a small minority practices this. Then, when the Emperor lost his power and the Hojo Regency in Kamakura gained power, I know that some new Buddhists sects originated (one of my question below) mainly Pure Land, Zen, and Nichiren.
I know Zen was brought from China and it has two main sub-sects. However, today, I read that only a short percentage of people practice Zen, mainly the rich.
Nichiren is also practiced widely, but it is very controversial and it has links to Soka Gakkai, the Komeito Party, and many traced it to the extremist group that attacked a Tokyo subway via gas in 1995.
Pure Land Buddhism, or Jodo, is confusing. I read that this was practiced by the majority, but I also read that Nichiren was. Also, I read about Jodo Shin Shu, or True Pure Land Buddhism, and this has gotten me even more confused.
Please check this, and if I have anything wrong tell me please. Then, please answer these loose ends that I have below. ^^ Thanks!
1: What Shinto sect is practiced by the majority of the population in Japan today?
2: What Buddhist sect is practiced by the majority of the population in Japan today?
3: Are the Buddhist sects that orignated under the Kamakura Bakufu in the 12th and 13th centuries (Zen, Pure Land, Nichiren) sects of Tendai or Shingon Buddhism? Or are they just sects of Mahayana Buddhism?
4: Is Soka Gakkai a sect of Nichiren?
5: What's the Japanese name for Pure Land Buddhism? What about True Pure Land?
5: Main question. Please answer, this is the most important one. Are Pure Land Buddhism (Jodo) and True Pure Land Buddhism (Jodo ShinShu) the same thing?
6: Main question. Please answer, one of the most important ones. Is True Pure Land Buddhism (Shin Shu) a sect of Pure Land Buddhism? or vice versa?
7: Main, please answer. Which sect, Pure Land Buddhism, or True Pure Land Buddhism, is practiced by the majority of the population in Japan, by the most people, and is most influential and popular?
8: Does Nichiren have sects? If so, which one is practiced by the majority?
9: Does Jinja Shinto itself have sects? If so, which one is practiced by most people?
10: Is Shinto itself a sect of a larger religion? I know it has sects, but is Shinto a sect of a larger religion?
11: I know Buddhism is a sect, but is it a sect of a larger religion? Also, is Buddhism a sect of Hinduism? 'Cause I know it began as a effort to reform Hinduism, but is Buddhism a sect of Hinduism?
Thanks for your patience!
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