Religious and the Development of Japan

Abstract

There are three main religious institutions : Shinto, Buddhism and Confucianism. All three have had great impact on the development of Japan. Since they have been developing for thousands of years, they have adapted themselves to each other to some degree. The outstanding feature of Shinto is that it emphasizes the imperial institution and the Japanese as special creatures of the Japanese kami. Accordingly, Shinto is easily used to encourage nationalism. The Buddhism which has as its essential principle the concept of transcendental world negation, has been adapted in Japan to building good citizens for this world. Unlike Japanese Buddhism, Japanese Confucianism is based primarily on an affirmation of the present world, and thus on this-worldly principles. Together, the three have been essential to Japan’s development and have penetrated the life of the Japanese in general, becoming the foundation of Japanese uniqueness.