カテゴリー: Culture & History
-
How to Read a Japanese Shrine: Torii, Komainu, Shimenawa and More
Torii, komainu, shimenawa, a hidden hall: every Japanes…
-
How to Identify Japanese Buddhist Statues: From Nyorai to Ten
Nyorai, Bosatsu, Myoo and Ten—Japan’s Buddhist statues …
-
Goshuin: Japan’s Sacred Temple and Shrine Seals Explained
Goshuin, the inked seals from Japanese temples and shri…
-
Omamori and Ema: Japan’s Amulets and Votive Plaques Explained
Omamori amulets and ema plaques aren’t just souvenirs: …
-
Japanese Buddhist Schools: Zen, Pure Land, Shingon and Beyond
Japan’s temples belong to many Buddhist schools — Tenda…
-
What Is a Kami? Japan’s Gods and Sacred Spirits of Shinto
Kami are not quite “gods.” A deep dive into what the Ja…
-
Shinbutsu-Shugo: When Japan’s Gods and Buddhas Were One
For over a thousand years Japan’s kami and the buddhas …
-
How to Visit a Japanese Shrine: Etiquette from the Torii Gate to the Prayer
A simple guide to Japanese shrine etiquette: how to pas…
-
Shrine vs. Temple in Japan: Why Japan Has Two Sacred Spaces
Beyond torii gates and Buddha statues: why Japan’s shri…
