Shrines and temples may seem similar, but they are completely different things.
The place where we offer Japanese cultural experiences is at shrines. Today I would like to write about the differences between these two places.
I think understanding this difference in advance will greatly change the way you perceive a place when you actually visit.
Although there are many differences in detail, there are four main differences.
- religious differences
- Differences in objects of faith
- Differences in buildings
- Differences in worship methods
◆Religious beliefs and objects of worship
Temple : Buddhism
Temples usually house statues of Buddha and are places where Buddhist teachings are learned and practiced. You can actually see and worship the Buddha statue you are worshiping. (You may not be able to see it depending on the temple)
Shrine : Shinto
In ancient Japanese religion, it is believed that gods reside in everything such as mountains, forests, the sea, and the wind, and the same concept applies not only to nature but also to people and things.
Since there is no guru or scripture, there are no fixed teachings.
◆Differences in buildings (entrances)
Shrines and temples have a variety of buildings, but the most obvious difference in appearance lies in the structure of the Sanmon gate and Torii gate.
Temple : Sanmon
It is called “Sanmon” and serves as the official entrance to the temple. (Some temples may not have it.)
In kanji, it is written as “Sanmon”. “San” means mountain.
“Mon”means gate. It is said that in the past many temples were built on mountain, which is why it came to be called “Sanmon.”
Shrine : Torii
There is a torii gate at the entrance of the shrine. (Some shrines may not have it)
The area beyond this point is considered a sacred place where deities, and this side is thought to be the boundary for human habitation.
Torii gates come in various shapes, so it’s interesting to compare them.
There are other differences, but we’ll discuss them in more detail another time.
Shinto has been believed in Japan since ancient times, but Buddhism was later introduced from overseas. Even so, Shinto and Buddhism are not in serious conflict, but are merging and developing. This is a phenomenon called “Shinto-Buddhist syncretism”.
Since Shintoism had no written precepts, it was able to naturally accept Buddhism, which has a strong academic element. For this reason, Buddhist statues were sometimes erected at shrines. However, when Shinto became the national religion during the Meiji period, a movement began to differentiate between Shinto and Buddhism. Although this has led to the distinction between shrines and temples, there are many similarities between shrines and temples as they have a long history of fusion.
Also, many Japanese people visit shrines and temples regardless of their religion, but this may be unusual for people from overseas.