According to ancient Chinese records, she was the "ruler of Yamatai" in the 200s C.E. She is known for using magic to country her people. (Matsumura, K. 2006. "Ancient Japan and Religion." In Nanzan Guide to Japanese Religions, P. Swanson and C. Clark, eds. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 136)
Senzo 先祖
Ancestor(s)
Shakamuni
The historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama; the photo depicts a painting of Shakamuni at Shitenno-ji, which claims to be one of Japan's oldest Buddhist temples.
Shichi Fukujin 七福神
The seven gods of fortune; a syncretic group of deities from Taoist, Buddhist, and Shinto influence. (Ellwood, R. 2008. Introducing Japanese Religion. New York: Routledge, 224)
Shicho-go-san 七五三
Literally, "seven-five-three"; a festival during which three- and seven-year old girls and five-year old boys are taken to (typically) a Shinto shrine to be "further placed under the protective blessings of the kami." (Reader, I. 1991. Religion in Contemporary Japan. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 62)
Shimenawa しめ縄
Sacred ropes (most often used in Shinto) to depict sacred space or objects
Shinbutsu bunri 神仏分離
"Separation of Shinto and Buddhism"; In 1868, the changing Japanese government attempted to remove Buddhist political and (to a lesser extent) cultural influences by officially separating Shinto and Buddhism (see shinbutsu shūgō below). (Stone, J. 2006. "Buddhism." In Nanzan Guide to Japanese Religions, P. Swanson and C. Clark, eds. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 53)
Shinbutsu
shūgō
神仏習合
"amalgamation (or syncretism) of kami and buddhas"; not long after Buddhism entered Japan in the 500s did Japanese (from leaders to peasants) begin to intermix Buddhist and Shinto traditions. In some cases, this meant viewing Buddhist and deities as having the same powers, while in other periods buddhas were interpreted as superior to kami. This trend lasted for centuries, officially (but not culturally) ending in the Meiji period (see shinbutsu bunri above). (Havens, n. 2006. "Shinto." In Nanzan Guide to Japanese Religions, P. Swanson and C. Clark, eds. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 23)
Shinkō 信仰
A term used to refer to "religion" (but see shūkyō below), "faith", or "religious behaviors". (see Swanson, P. and C. Clark, eds. 2006. Nanzan Guide to Japanese Religions. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press)
Shinkō Shūkyō 信仰宗教
One of the terms commonly used to refer to Japan's "New Religions"; shinshūkyō 新宗教 is also commonly used. (Astley, T. 2006. "New Religions." In Nanzan Guide to Japanese Religions, P. Swanson and C. Clark, eds. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 91-114)
A syncretitistic blend of Buddhist and folk religious traditions that includes "esoteric and ascetic practices done in the mountains." (Ellwood, R. 2008. Introducing Japanese Religion. New York: Routledge, 58)
Shūkyō 宗教
The term most commonly used to reference "religion". However, there is much debate on the usage of the word. It can be said that it stands for rituals and beliefs within Japanese religiousness. (see Kisala, R. 2006. "Japanese Religions." In Nanzan Guide to Japanese Religions, P. Swanson and C. Clark, eds. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 4-6)
Sōshiki bukkyō 葬式仏教
"Funerary Buddhism"; a term coined to refer to Japanese Buddhism's emphasis on funerary rites (see Covell, S. 2005. Japanese Temple Buddhism. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press)
Syncretism
The simultaneous practice of multiple religions. This is common in Japan (and other cultures). See our "Religions" page.
Tama 魂, 霊
human spirit; "soul" (Reader, I. 1991. Religion in Contemporary Japan. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 40-41)
Tanuki 狸
Often translated as a raccoon-dog, tanuki are considered mythological creatures by some, known for their ability to transform into other objects and even humans. Statues portraying them are often found outside restaurants and shops near shrines and temples to beckon in customers.
Temizuya 手水舎
Purification area; here is where people cleanse their hands and sometimes mouths with water--typically--from a well. The water has been purified for the purpose of taking away impurities before enter shrine or temple grounds. Temizuya are usually before the main entrance to a shrine or temple. To rinse your hands, grab the ladle with your right hand and trickle the water over your left. Repeat with the other hand. Be sure the water falling over your hands is outside of the well (to keep the purified water pure).
Tennō 天皇
Emperor; other words for emperor used include tenji 天智 and tenmu 天武
Torii 鳥居
These are gates that demarcate sacred space. Most commonly found upon entering and inside Shinto shrine grounds but also found at some Buddhist temples. There are many shapes, sizes, and styles of torii. The torii in the photo was taken at the entrance to Meiji Shrine.
Ujigami 氏神
"Clan deities"; kami who represent and protect a local group; the kami of one's village shrine (Payne, R. 2006. "The Ritual Culture of Japan." In Nanzan Guide to Japanese Religions, P. Swanson and C. Clark, eds. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 239; see also Breen, J. and M. Teeuwen. 2010. A New History of Shinto. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, 15)
Ujiko 氏子
Shinto shrine "parishioners" (Kisala, R. 2006. "Japanese Religions." In Nanzan Guide to Japanese Religions, P. Swanson and C. Clark, eds. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 11)
Yakudoshi 厄年
"'Dangerous' or unlucky years"; years during which men and women should be extra careful and visit a Shinto shrine for special rites of protection. The photo depicts the year prior to, during, and following yakudoshi for that particular year (2010), The ages in the middle--18, 32, 36 are yakudoshi for women and 24, 41, and 60 are unlucky for men. So, if you were 18 and female in 2010, it was your yakudoshi. (Reader, I. 1991. Religion in Contemporary Japan. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 29)
Yamabushi 山伏
"Mountain ascetics" (Reader, I. 1991. Religion in Contemporary Japan. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 117-120)
Yo-naoshi 世直し
"World renewal"; part of the massive pilgrimages to Ise Grand Shrine and elsewhere in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, especially (Astley, T. 2006. "New Religions." In Nanzan Guide to Japanese Religions, P. Swanson and C. Clark, eds. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 100).
Zazen 座禅
"seated Zen meditation, in which the legs are crossed in the lotus position, the back is kept straight, the hands are rested one on the other just below the navel with the thumbs lightly touching, the eyes half open, the mouth firmly closed, and the breath inhaled and exhaled slowly and deeply through the nose." There are other variations of zazen that are more and less specific. (Reader, I. 1991. Religion in Contemporary Japan. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 79)