Hello Japanese fans!
When you go to Japan, there are certain places that you have to visit at least once – temples and shrines!
There’s an atmosphere that says, “This is Japan!” and it’s hard to choose between the temples and shrines.
Now, here’s the question: what is the difference between a “shrine” and a “temple”！?
In Japan, there are temples such as Senso-ji Temple and Naritasan Shinsho-ji Temple, as well as shrines that worship gods such as Ise Jingu. Both are solemn buildings, but what is the difference?
This time, we will be getting to the truth, including some vague differences that even Japanese people don’t really understand!
First, let’s look at the obvious difference in appearance!
Shrines have torii gates because they worship gods.
When you think of a shrine, you think of the big torii gate! Once you pass through the torii gate, you are in a shrine of the gods, so it acts as a gate connecting the real world with the world of the gods.
It’s a very easy-to-understand symbol, isn’t it? By the way, on Japanese maps, map symbols are used to indicate facilities, and the map symbol for shrines is a torii gate. It’s truly the symbol of a shrine!
Furthermore, you will often see large, long-standing trees around shrines. These are called sacred forests, and large shrines such as Meiji Shrine, Kashima Shrine, and Ise Shrine are surrounded by forests. This is another characteristic of shrines.
The temple has a bell and a graveyard.
What is the symbol of the temple? The temple enshrines Buddha. So there are graves where ancestors sleep. It’s scary at night!
Larger temples also have large bells that ring loudly in the mornings and evenings.
When I hear the sound of the temple bell ringing at sunset, I feel like composing a haiku like Matsuo Basho. The sound of the crows cawing adds to the mood. This is the very essence of wabi-sabi.
The temple bell rings 108 times during the New Year period. It is said that this sound drives away worldly desires, and Japanese people wait in the cold to welcome the New Year by listening to this sound.
Also, large temples have large incense burners, which are huge pots used for burning incense, and they emit a lot of smoke. It is said that if you cover yourself with this smoke, your illness will be cured, and when I was little, I often had smoke poured over my head.(Because I was stupid…)
If you look closely, you’ll see that there are differences in the people working there!
The shrine is staffed by a chief priest and a shrine maiden.
There are many different people who work at shrines, but the most common are the chief priest and the shrine maiden.
It’s easy to identify a shrine maiden; they are the women in the shrine office wearing white shrine maiden clothes. When you go to see them at the shrine office, be sure to buy a charm as well. It will protect you.
Do you have an image of what a chief priest is like? An image of an onmyoji (exorcist) is pretty much fine!
If you just go to pray, you won’t often meet the chief priest, but if you ask for an exorcism or prayer, he will pray for you in the shrine hall.
We don’t get to meet them much in our daily lives, but we do meet them on occasions like Shichigosan or exorcisms for people in unlucky years.
Of course, the people who work in temples are monks!
Everyone who is a temple knows this! Monks work there. If you can’t imagine it, just imagine Ikkyu-san.
As mentioned above, temples are places where graves are located and people visit to worship their ancestors during the summer Obon and spring and autumn equinoxes.
Other than that, I sometimes go to the temple to clean and visit the graves, but I usually meet with the monks during the Obon period.
During Obon, monks recite sutras for our ancestors (Buddha). We only have them recite sutras at temples on certain occasions, such as the 13th anniversary of a person’s death, and in most cases they come to our homes and recite sutras at the Buddhist altar.
At temples, prayers called goma are held, and you can participate in them. You can participate in the goma at Naritasan Shinshoji Temple in Chiba without making a reservation, so if the timing is right, be sure to go and experience the atmosphere of the prayer for yourself!
Why do Japan have both shrines and temples?
Both shrines and temples are majestic and historic, and are deeply rooted in the lives and lives of Japanese people. Why has this situation come to this? To be honest, I, as a Japanese person, and my friends around me have never really thought much about it, but I’ve decided to try to put it into words!
The Shinto belief that there are eight million gods
One of the fundamental values in Japan is the belief that gods reside in all things in nature, as represented by the eight million gods.（八百万の神 yaoyorozuno kami)
The sun (Amaterasu Omikami), the moon, stars, wind, thunder, land, etc.
It has also been believed that paper resides in animals and tools made by humans.
In particular, the belief in ujigami (guardian deities) found all over Japan can be seen as evidence that the Japanese, an agricultural people, have always placed great importance on the divinity of the land.
Buddhist ideas were transmitted to Japan from the Eurasian continent.
As mentioned above, Shintoism, which has the idea of worshiping shrines, is an ancient Japanese idea of worshiping paper, whereas Buddhism, as you know, originated in India and was introduced to Japan through China (around the time of Prince Shotoku?).
The difference between shrines and temples is that while shrines worship various gods, temples worship Buddhas, including one’s own ancestors.
Although they are different, in Japan, both gods and Buddhas are deeply rooted as objects of worship and are well mixed into daily life. For example, the Obon festival in summer and the spring and autumn equinoxes are based on Buddhist ideas of respecting ancestors, while the first shrine visit of the year and the shrine visit for a certain age are based on Shinto ideas. Furthermore, warding off evil spirits after coming of age are performed at both shrines and temples, so it is sometimes unclear how to distinguish between them.
Find out what is worshipped at shrines and temples
Both famous temples and shrines are solemn and atmospheric places, but when you visit, be sure to research their history and what is enshrined there.
The most famous Ise Shrine in Japan enshrines Amaterasu Omikami, but what deity is worshipped at the shrine near your hotel? Be sure to check it out and visit.
Finally, and most importantly, we will introduce the difference in how to visit a “shrine” and a “temple”!
Have you considered the difference between a shrine and a temple? As an honest Japanese person, I and the people around me don’t think about it at all, and we both have the impression that they are solemn places, so it’s okay to just have a rough understanding.
Have you considered the difference between a shrine and a temple? As an honest Japanese person, I and the people around me don’t think about it at all, and we both have the impression that they are solemn places, so it’s okay to just have a rough understanding.
In the case of a shrine
The most important thing is the ritual of two bows, two claps, and one bow. First, bow twice to let the god know that you have come to pray, then clap twice to wake him up and prepare for your request. After that, close your eyes and make your request to the god in your mind (don’t speak!), then thank him once more and leave.
Lastly, it’s important not to just walk through the center of the approach to the shrine!
It is said that walking in the middle of the approach to the shrine is disrespectful because that is where the gods pass through. Also, after praying, it is said that it is better to walk to the side instead of backwards so as not to turn your back to the gods. There are too many rules of etiquette, so you can ignore everything except the basic two bows, two claps, one bow!
The gravel road leading to the shrine also has a purpose.When you walk on gravel, you hear a crunching sound, right? It is said that this sound calms the mind and prepares the gravel path for worship.
What is the etiquette at the temple?
Temples are places to pray to ancestors and Buddha, so there are no strict etiquette rules. Rather, you are expected to pray calmly and slowly with a quiet mind.
Unlike at shrines, you don’t clap your hands, so that’s a clear difference! At temples, you slowly put your hands together and pray to Buddha.
Important things common to shrines and temples.
It goes without saying that the most important thing at both shrines and temples is to have a respectful attitude; for example, it goes without saying that you should remove your hat, sit up straight, and calm your mind before praying.
And the most important thing is…
to always put a 5 yen coin in the offering!
This is because the wordplay “5 yen coin = goen” is deeply rooted in Japan!
Please think of this as a Japanese rule that is known by everyone from children to adults.
Of course, if you put in an offering of 5 yen or more, the gods and Buddhas will smile and welcome you! With this in mind, we hope you will visit the various shrines and temples in Japan. See you!
fanfan japan!!
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