Buddhist and Shinto structures Buddhist temples in Japan

a torii @ entrance of shitennō-ji, buddhist temple in osaka

in japan, buddhist temples co-exist shinto shrines, , both share basic features of japanese traditional architecture. not can torii, gates associated shinto, found @ both, entrance shrine can marked rōmon, gate buddhist in origin , can therefore found @ temples. shrines, example iwashimizu hachiman-gū, have buddhist-style main gate called sōmon. many temples have temizuya , komainu, shrine. conversely, shrines make use of incense or have shōrō belltower. others – example, tanzan jinja in nara – may have pagoda.

honden of zennyo ryūō shrine, inside shingon temple in kyoto

similarities between temples , shrines functional. shrine, buddhist temple not place of worship: important buildings used safekeeping of sacred objects (the honzon, equivalent shrine s shintai), , not accessible worshipers. unlike christian church, temple monastery. there specialized buildings rites, these open limited number of participants. religious mass gatherings not take place regularity christian religions, , in event not held inside temple. if many people involved in ceremony, assume festive character , held outdoors.

the reason great structural resemblances between 2 lies in common history. in fact normal temple have been shrine, , in architectural terms, obvious differences between 2 therefore few, so specialist can see them.

shrines enshrining local kami existed long before arrival of buddhism, consisted either of demarcated land areas without building or of temporary shrines, erected when needed. arrival of buddhism in japan in 6th century, shrines subjected influence , adopted both concept of permanent structures , architecture of buddhist temples.

a buddhist-style gate (karamon) @ iwashimizu hachiman-gū

the successive development of shinbutsu-shūgō (syncretism of buddhism , kami worship) , of honji suijaku theory brought complete fusion of kami worship , buddhism. became normal shrines accompanied temples in mixed complexes called jingū-ji (神宮寺, lit. shrine temple) or miyadera (宮寺, lit. shrine temple). opposite common: temples had @ least small shrine dedicated tutelary kami, , therefore called jisha (寺社, temple shrines). meiji era s eliminated jingūji, left jisha intact, so today temples have @ least one, large, shrine on premises , buddhist goddess benzaiten worshiped @ shinto shrines.

as consequence, centuries shrines , temples had symbiotic relationship each influenced other. shrines took buddhism gates (mon), use of hall lay worshipers, use of vermilion-colored wood , more, while chinese buddhist architecture adapted japanese tastes more asymmetrical layouts, greater use of natural materials, , adaptation of monastery pre-existing natural environment.

the clear separation between buddhist temples , shinto shrines, today norm, emerges result of shinbutsu bunri ( separation of kami , buddhas ) law of 1868. separation mandated law, , many shrine-temples forced become shrines, among them famous ones usa hachiman-gū , tsurugaoka hachiman-gū.

because mixing 2 religions forbidden, jingūji had give away of properties or dismantle of buildings, damaging integrity of cultural heritage , decreasing historical , economic value of properties. example, tsurugaoka hachiman-gū s giant niō (the 2 wooden wardens found @ sides of temple s entrance), being objects of buddhist worship , therefore illegal were, sold jufuku-ji, still are. shrine-temple had destroy buddhism-related buildings, example tahōtō, midō, , shichidō garan.

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