1 Japanese New Religions An Overview and Selected Examples Franz Winter Overview of the lecture • General introduction into the history of Japanese religions and the traditional religions of Japan • The „New Religions“ (shinshūkyō 新宗教) Periodization and general questions • Selected examples of the „older period“ (until 1970ties): Tenrikyō 天理教 Sōka Gakkai 創価学会 • Recent developments: General characteristics of the „new new religions“ (shin-shinshūkyō 新新宗教) • Selected examples: Kōfuku no kagaku 幸福の科学 Aum Shinrikyō 幸福の科学 „New“– „Old“? • „New Religions“ (shinshūkyō 新宗教) of Japan • Definition of „new religion“, „new religious movements“, „Neureligion“ • Importance in Japanese society • The „new new religions“ (shin-shinshūkyō 新宗教) Religion in Japan: A Tapestry of Traditions • „Established religions “ (kisei shūkyō 既成宗教) or „traditional religions“ (dentō shūkyō 伝統宗教), mainly: Shintō Buddhism Taoism Confucianism (Christianity) 2 Shintō 神道 • Shintō 神道: „Way of the Gods“ (kami 神) • Conglomeration of religious practices • Formation as a reaction to influence of Buddhism and Taoism • Material collected in Kojiki 古事記 and Nihon shoki 日本書紀 Kojiki 古事記 („Record of Ancient Matters“) • The names of the Deities that were born in the Plain of High Heaven when the Heaven and Earth began were the Deity Master-of-the-August-Centre-of-Heaven , next the High-August-Producing-Wondrous Deity, next the Divine-Producing-Wondrous-Deity. These three Deities were all Deities born alone, and hid their persons. The names of the Deities that were born next from a thing that sprouted up like unto a reed-shoot when the earth, young and like unto floating oil, drifted about medusalike, were the Pleasant-Reed-Shoot-Prince-Elder Deity, next the Heavenly-Eternally-Standing-Deity. These two Deities were likewise born alone, and hid their persons. (Kojiki, transl. Chamberlain, 1919) Izanami and Izanagi creating the earth 3 Amaterasu Importance of Shintō • Shintō as „statereligion“ especially from 1868 („Meijirevolution“) -1945 • After WWII: state and religion became separated Shintō shrines • Local god (ujigami) or • important gods: Inari Hachiman or History of Japan Fushimi Inari Taisha Nikko Toshogu Gate 4 Shintō festivals (matsuri) Gion Matsuri, Kyoto Buddhism (bukkyō 仏教) • Since early 6th century from Korea • Prince Shōtoku Taishi 聖徳太子 (574-622) • First traditions: „Esoteric Buddhism“: Tendai and Shingon Spread of Buddhism Various traditions • Amida or „Pure Land“-Buddhism: namu Amida Butsu • Nichiren-Buddhism: based on „Lotus Sutra“: namu myōhō rengekyō • Zen-Traditions: Eisai (1141-1215) and Dogen (1200-1253): direct achievement of enlightenment (satori) 5 Buddhism and Japanese culture • Bushidō 武 士道: „Way of the Warrior“ • Chadō 茶道: „Way of the Tea“ • Nō 能 • Calligraphy • Poetry Christianity 1) Jesuit missionary Francis Xavier 1549 1597: Crucifixion of 26 martyrs 1614: Christianity is proscribed „Hidden Christians“: Kakure Kirishitan 2) 1859/1873: new missionary activities, mainly in the North (Hokkaidō) 3) Post-WWII-Period: only minor gains until today But: Important as expression of Western culture Taoism and Confucianism • Confucianism: ethical and political philosophy, important especially 6th-9th century and in the Edo-period (1600-1868) • Taoism: important on different layers, mainly in popular culture until today 6 New Religions? • Continuity of new religions with traditional traditions • General tendency to form new traditions • Formation of sects/new approaches within the traditional religious cooperations • „New Religions“ are not a totally new period within the history of Japanese religions Periodization (according to Takagi Hirō) 1. 19th/early 20th century: „Meiji-revolution“ 2. Taishō (1912-1926) and early Shōwa-era 3. After 1945: Postwar period 4. from the 70ties onwards: shin-shinshūkyō 新新宗教 5. After 1995 1st Period 1) 19th century: End of isolation in Edōperiod (1600-) in 1868: “Meiji”-revolution: Tenrikyō 天理教 1838 Kurozumikyō 黒住教 1846 Konkōkyō 金光教 1859 Ōmoto 大本 1892 Characteristics - Mainly Shintō background - Some groups organized as “Sect-Shintō” kyōha shintō 教派神道 (not: State Shintō, kokka Shintō 国家神道) - Origin in rural society - Some groups have women as founders: said to be “speakers” of a highest god 7 2nd period Taishō (1912-1926) and early Shōwa (1926- 1989)-era: • Nationalism and Militarism • Urbanization and beginning of industrialization • Origin in towns • More Buddhist-based groups • Persecutions Examples Reiyūkai 霊友会 1925 Sekai Kyūseikyō 世界救世教 1928 Seichō no Ie 成長の家 1929 Sōka Gakkai 創価学会 1930 3rd period After WWII 1945: • Seperation of state and religion • „Freedom of believe“: shinkyō no jiyū 信教 の自由 • Shūkyō hōjin hō 宗教法人法 (Law on religious corporations) Examples • P(erfect) L(iberty) Kyōdan (former Hito no michi Kyōkai人の道教会 1924)) • Mahikari 1963 8 4th period • Since 1970ties: the „new new religions“ shin-shinshūkyō 新新宗教 • Further diversification • New “spiritual” trend • Importance of Anglo-American “New Age”/Western Esotericism • Use of modern mass-media Examples • G(od) L(ight) A(ssociation) 1968 • Agonshū 1978 • Aum Shinrikyō 1984 • Kōfuku no kagaku 1986 • Worldmate 5th period (added to the periodization of Tagaki Hirō) After Sarin-gas attack in Tokyo subway 1995 by members of Aum Shinrikyō • Changes in the religious corporation law • More restrictive and cautious look on younger developments • Membership figures of the shin-shinshūkyō 新新宗教 are stagnating since 2000 (the latest) The future is open to new developments: “Qué será, será ...“