Shintoism and Buddhism in Japan

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Shintoism and Buddhism in Japan: The Izumo-taisha and Kennin-ji Shinto shrines, like the Izumo-taisha (Figure 1), were often architecturally similar to dwelling houses, humble and modest in size and ornamentation. In contrast, Buddhist temples in Japan, such as the Kennin-ji (Figure 3), were heavily influenced by Chinese architecture, expressing a greater sense of order and authority. Despite the differences in the two religions and their influence over architecture, buildings like the Kennin-ji and Izumo-taisha have existed in harmony, and even in conjunction, in Japan, and there are even some instances in which Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples exist at the same site. On a trip I took to Japan four years ago, I came across an interesting aspect of Japanese architecture—the combination of Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines in a single site. At the Asakusa Kannon Buddhist Temple in Tokyo, while the majority of the site is dedicated to the temple, there is a small Shinto shrine (Figure 4) present. This combination of the two religions in Japan is common not only in architecture, but also in practice. Ever since the introduction of Buddhism to Japan, there have been many people who have continued to practice the native religion, Shintoism, as well as Buddhism. The two religions have come to exist in harmony in Japan. Izumo-taisha, also known as the Izumo Grand Shrine, is a Shinto shrine, speculatively built at the request of the emperor in the 7th century. The building at its present state was constructed c. 1744. The building has been built in a simple manner, free of excess decoration, in a style that is “the embodiment” of the classic Japanese style of architecture. The roof is gabled, and the main entrance, rather than being on the central axis, is off-set to the right on the front façade of the building. The most recognized aspect of

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