Hi, this is Yuyujin.
When you come to Japan, you will visit Temple and/or Shrine to know Japanese culture.
They look similar for foreign people.
Do you understand the difference?
If you know the difference, you will know Japan more deeply.
Today I will introduce you the difference between Temple and Shrine, Otera To Jinjya,(おてらとじんじゃ).
Let’s get started.
Difference between Temple and Shrine
Shintoism and Buddhism
Temple and Shrine are based on different religions.
Shintoism
Shrine is based on Shintoism that is tribal religion believed in Japan from the ancient times.
Many Gods are believed in Shintoism.
There are God of the rice field, God of rain, God of fire and so on.
We called them 8 million Gods, Yaoyorozu No Kami (やおよろずのかみ）.
8 million, Yaoyorozu (やおよろず), means not actual 8 million , it means “many”.
Japanese is the agricultural people and their lives are influenced by the natural environments much.
Sometime natural environments give benefits and sometime they give damages.
So Japanese feel thanks and also fears to nature.
Japanese pray many objects of nature as God.
Buddhism
Temple is based on Buddhism.
Buddhism originated in Ancient India about 2,500 years ago.
It is one of three great religions of the world.
It came Japan around end of B.C .
It is a combination of traditions, beliefs and spiritual practices largely based on original teachings attributed to the Buddha.
Buddha is not god. Buddha is an awaken person and interprets the philosophies.
In Japan there are some religious schools.
One of them pursue meditation.
Facilities of Shrine and Temple
Shrine
Shrine, Jinjya(じんじゃ), has mainly 3 parts.
One is Torii(とりい) , gates of Shrine.
Torii(とりい) separates religious area from ordinary world.
Torii of Meiji Jinguu
Torii of Yoyogi Hachiman
The other is Sando(さんどう), streets in Shrine.
Sandou
The last one is Shaden(しゃでん) that has Haiden(はいでん), praying place, and Shinden(しんでん), god place.
Shaden
Haiden
Sando(さんどう) leads us to the Shaden(しゃでん).
There are places where we wash hands along Sando(さんどう).
We wash our hands before praying.
Temple
Temple has mainly 2 parts.
One is Doutou(どうとう),praying place.
Another is Soubou(そうぼう) where Sou(そう) live.
Sou( そう) is a person to try enlightenment.
Praying method
At Shrine
At shrine you throw some money to the Saisenbako(さいせんばこ) and then pray with Ni Rei Ni Hakushu Ichi Rei (にれい にはくしゅ いちれい).
Ni Rei(にれい) means bowing twice.
Ni Hakushu(にはくしゅ) means clapping twice.
Ichi Rei(いちれい) means bowing once.
At Temple
At temple you throw some money to the Saisenbako(さいせんばこ) and then pray with Gashou(がっしょう).
Gashou(がっしょう) means folded hands.
OK, that’s it.
Thank you so much.
Have a good trip.
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