S
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Just before this goes on I’d like to say that even though I’ve seen a lack of stuff about east Asian religions for the most part in this forum here’s two questions about Shintoism I’m hoping someone can answer.(1)In Shintoism,there are various gods but I dont understand how is it that some of them can be* “mythologized”* and worshipped in the way of a real religion?.Take Amaterasu the sun goddess for instance.A long time ago the imperial family claimed descendence from Amaterasu.At the end of world war II however there was a declaration (the Humanity declaration) from that stated “The ties between Us and Our people have always stood upon mutual trust and affection. They do not depend upon mere legends and myths. They are not predicated on the false conception that the Emperor is divine…]”.I also have a feeling that this* might *have to do with something a read on wikipedia a while ago of how
“With the introduction of Buddhism and its rapid adoption by the court in the 6th century, it was necessary to explain the apparent differences between native Japanese beliefs and Buddhist teachings[eventually there’d be sycreticism between them]. One Buddhist explanation saw the kami as supernatural beings still caught in the cycle of birth and rebirth (reincarnation). The kami are born, live, die, and are reborn like all other beings in the karmic cycle. However, the kami played a special role in protecting Buddhism and allowing its teachings of compassion to flourish.This explanation was later challenged by Kūkai [a monk/scholar] (空海, 774–835), who saw the kami as different embodiments of the Buddhas themselves (honji suijaku theory). For example, he famously linked Amaterasu (the sun goddess and ancestor of the Imperial family) with Dainichi Nyorai, a central manifestation of the Buddhists, whose name means literally “Great Sun Buddha”. In his view, the kami were just Buddhas by another name.**.”.
(2)However those honji suijaku apply to Shintoism as a whole religion or (something to the effect of) certain branches of it?.
Thank you very much so for your time.
“With the introduction of Buddhism and its rapid adoption by the court in the 6th century, it was necessary to explain the apparent differences between native Japanese beliefs and Buddhist teachings[eventually there’d be sycreticism between them]. One Buddhist explanation saw the kami as supernatural beings still caught in the cycle of birth and rebirth (reincarnation). The kami are born, live, die, and are reborn like all other beings in the karmic cycle. However, the kami played a special role in protecting Buddhism and allowing its teachings of compassion to flourish.This explanation was later challenged by Kūkai [a monk/scholar] (空海, 774–835), who saw the kami as different embodiments of the Buddhas themselves (honji suijaku theory). For example, he famously linked Amaterasu (the sun goddess and ancestor of the Imperial family) with Dainichi Nyorai, a central manifestation of the Buddhists, whose name means literally “Great Sun Buddha”. In his view, the kami were just Buddhas by another name.**.”.
(2)However those honji suijaku apply to Shintoism as a whole religion or (something to the effect of) certain branches of it?.
Thank you very much so for your time.