Julie Truong (1184407)
EASIA 423 – Final Paper
Professor David Quinter
April 21st, 2016
Buddhism Influence during Tokugawa Era
Buddhism has had major influences on Japanese society and cultures ever since the introduction of Buddhism to Japan. Buddhism has been practiced ever since the introduction of a new religion into Japan. Buddhist religion played a dramatic role in the history of Japan when Buddhism was transmitted “from the Korean kingdom of Paekche to Japan around the middle of the sixth century” and adopted Buddhism into the imperial family (Yoshida 2). Buddhism is “a religion founded in India by a historical figure known as Sakyamuni. What was originally a small band of disciples eventually developed into a large religious order”
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The Buddhist belief systems played a role in shaping it society. Buddhism has had countless influence on Japanese society as we take a closer look on the influence of Buddhism during the Tokugawa period or pre-modern period in Japan. Although, Buddhism was the dominant religion in Tokugawa Japan, it still experiences numerous challenges to get to where they are today. This paper will show the influence of Buddhism during the Edo era that lead to the Buddhist obtaining political power, in which stability of the economic development of the society prosperous their religion in contemporary …show more content…
Tokugawa Ieyasu a devoted follower of Tendai Buddhism had greatly influenced the country view on religion. In actually fact, Tokugawa Ieyasu was influenced by Buddhism, which had a profound effect on the government. He also, ordered for the reconstruction and restoration of Buddhist temple and monasteries that were destroyed earlier on. Since the government was pro-Buddhism, therefore the influences of Buddhism on the country significantly affected Japan Society. Buddhism became the primary religion supported by the government, along with the increase in power and influence comes the increase in financial support. Since Buddhism is under the political rule of the country and financial support of the Tokugawa shogunate. As a result, “Buddhist temples suddenly increased,” throughout Japan (Yoshida 4789). In addition, every town and village would have “[t]emples of one affiliation or another” which means the spread of Buddhism was incredible throughout Japan (Gordon
-Nara’s Buddhist temples were another result of cultural diffusion, Buddhist began in India in 500s B.C.E. about 1,000 years later, it came to Japan from China by way of Korea.
Yu, Han. “Memorial on Buddhism”. Making of the Modern World 12: Classical & Medieval Tradition. Trans. Richard F. Burton. Ed. Janet Smarr. La Jolla: University Readers, 2012. 111-112. Print.
Reid, who knows Japanese and has studied things Asian for many years, lived in a Japanese community, sent his children to an excellent Japanese public school and learned to put up cheerfully with his Japanese neighbors' codified concerns. ''The Japanese,'' he happily notes, ''are people who love rules.'' Written with grace, knowledge and humor, his book is a sympathetic Baedeker to the Japanese way of life. It is well worth reading for that. Not many foreigners have been able to fit in so well with their neighbors. His explanations of modern Japan and its Confucian background ar...
Buddhism is a religion from the East that has spread to many different countries all over the world. It has spread to the West, and has had a great influence and impact, especially in America. However, the Buddhism that is practiced in the United States is not exactly the same as the one that is practiced in Asian countries. If Buddhism differs between the different traditions of the Asian countries themselves, it is obvious that it will differ greatly in America as well. However, even though there are obvious differences, it is important to maintain the core values and fundamental principles the same. This research explores how the three different types of Buddhist practitioners have adopted Buddhism in America, and it describes some differences
Japan’s religious belief and Japan’s modern, materialist society create and ideological conflict that kept on growing. Contradictions between the old and the new, modernity and tradition are part of the contemporary issues of religion in Japan. Ideological conflicts like this create repercussion leaving a schism in the psyche. Because of this, beliefs and life styles of the Japanese community grow to become more difficult giving as a result internal confusion and isolation. As Japan’s economic power grows, Japanese people are able to enjoy many goods and more modern urban areas and cities. Japan industrial era and religion’s messages creates conflict in the Japanese society. People are facing struggle while tryi...
Buddhism was a powerful force both in politics and in everyday life. It was a tad of the ruling class to appease the people in times of hardship, especially during the political disunity between dynasties. However, as times changed, Buddhism was blamed for much of the trouble in society and for edging out the much more strict doctrine of Confucianism. Even though most of these documents seem to come from Confucian scholars, the documents indicate a spread, nonetheless, of Buddhism among the people.
Buddhism saw its initial, but slow rise under the Han Dynasty, which lasted from 206 BCE to 220 CE; however, the religion spread rapidly towards the end of the Han amidst political chaos and hesitance in Confucian principles. During the postclassical era, Buddhism’s spread in China was caused by the prospect of Nirvana, while it also gave way to both negative and positive responses.
Buddhism originated in India in the sixth century BCE and spread throughout China starting from about the first century CE. Buddhist ideologies appealed to a majority of the lower-class in china, as it served to embody a much more pleasant life, rather than the lack of opportunities for them in China’s political society. However, the social elites and government authorities saw Buddhism as a threat to their previous decrees and traditions, and may consequently result in a loss of their political power. As a result, they sought to undermine the impact of Buddhism on their societies by discrediting it’s teachings.
In this Treatise have discussed China's classical age and how they influenced all of east Asian culture for over two thousand years. And How Buddhism spread throughout east Asia and evolved into several different schools each embracing the host nations principle and beliefs. I have discussed Confucian teachings and texts have influenced Chinese and Eastern Asian culture and government for centuries. How China overcame invaders from all sides and managed to emerge as a world economic power. And finally how Japan developed its own culture and founded a new social class the Samurai. East Asian History is compelling, deep and complicated. A history that will sound differently each time as their history continues to grow and influence other non Asian cultures.
In East Asia much of the Buddhism is not as strongly obeyed through law as it had been. Empress Wu in Tang China and King Taejo in Korea were introduced to buddhism and through this introduction they were able to promote her own power. This essay will discuss how and why Empress Wu had the ability to become a female ruler in and the importance that Buddhism had played in order to help Wu Zhao gain her powers in a system where she was at a disadvantage. The Second Ruler that will be discussed is King Taejo, Similar to Empress Wu he too utilized Buddhism in order to help his accession to the throne.
Japan has been a home for Shinto and Buddhist religions for centuries. The Christian missionaries during the 16th, 19th and 20th centuries worked hard to evangelize the Japanese nation but could not get desired success. There efforts in past failed partly due to sanctions imposed by the local rulers. The Jesuits missionaries traveled with Spanish and Portuguese traders to many areas of America and Asia-Pacific and established their churches and religious missions. They were funded, sponsored and trained by their respective governments in order to spread Christianity. At several places they preached the Christian faith by force but the aboriginal population did not accept it wholeheartedly. Initially the Jesuits targeted the elite class of the country and a large number was converted. The rulers also forced their subject to embrace the same faith. About 300,000 Japanese were converted in the first phase. Later on, Christianity was prohibited as the rulers started seeing them as a threat to their authority. Following a change of regime, the ban was lifted and missionaries were again allowed to enter Japan. Like many Native American tribes, the Japanese also resisted the new religion. As a result, presently Christians form only 1% of the total population in Japan. This paper is focused on how the Christian religion was introduced in Japan, the evolution of evangelism, establishment of churches, the restrictions and hurdles faced by the missionaries and priest of the new religion and the response of Japanese nation towards an alien faith. All these queries are answered in detail given as follows.
Buddhism is a beautifully complex religion that since its widespread introduction to Japanese culture by the end of the seventh century has made enormous impacts and direct influences on the government and cultural practices of society (Hoffmann 36). The Japanese death poetry composed by Zen monks and haiku poets, compiled by Albert Hoffmann, is an excellent literary explication of the Japanese attitude towards death. This attitude is most notably derived from Buddhism, the main religion of the Japanese people. Even Japanese citizens who are not literal Buddhists still embrace the philosophies that have now become instilled in the cultural history of Japan due to such a heavy Buddhist influence on government and education throughout the centuries.
Buddhism prevailed as a religion indigenous to west India and comprises of varieties of traditions, beliefs and practices based on the teachings of Buddha. There are many reasons why Buddhism became so popular and entered into many civilizations. Buddhism began to be popular throughout Asia alongside India. Buddhism has blossomed in the contemporary world, especially in the West. It is an issue to wonder what Buddhism offers that other religions cannot and has become so significant worldwide. Buddhism has become an idea that is widespread and the teachings of Buddha have made a real difference in many civilizations like India, China, Japan, Vietnam, Korea and surprisingly Buddhism has come to make a significant difference in American culture.
Zen Buddhist monasteries were ahn important aspect of the education system. Many of which greatly succeeded as centuries of higher learning from the 9th century to the 15th century. At the start of the 16th century european and western influence began to creep into japan. Missionaries opened religious schools within japan and began to teach latin and classical western music along with the classical japanese subjects and christianity.
Fourteenth century Japan was a time of peace for many people. Buddhism had just become a major part of Japanese culture due to the Shogun Yoshimitsu. He became ruler in 1367 at the sapling age of ten (Waley 21). Yoshimitsu needed to distinguish himself from his ancestors and he did this by being devoted to Buddhism, specifically the Zen Sect (21). “Zen Buddhism and the life and teaching of Shinran are popularly identified as typical Japanese Buddhism.” (Takeda 27) However Buddhism, in Japan, is different and unique from Buddhism in other countries because it is considered the “funeral religion” (27). This is mainly influenced by ancient Japanese beliefs of the onryo.