As mentioned several times in previous articles, Japan is a country that embraces ‘yaoyorozu’ polytheism.
Basically, Buddhism has the largest proportion, followed by Christianity, and then a combination of other religions.
What about Japan’s own religion, Shintoism? This is a slightly different stance.
There are few clear-cut precepts in the Shinto religion.
There are some, but it is the priests who must strictly observe them, while the believers and worshippers are not asked to do much more than follow certain rules of etiquette.
Some cooperation is required during the year-end and New Year holidays and festivals, but basically free will is respected.
The Japanese Shinto religion demands awe and gratitude towards the gods (and nature), as well as a modest attitude to life.
Because there is little structure or rules as a religious order, it has a more conceptual aspect than other religions. This may suit the character of the Japanese, who are sometimes said to be less religious. (Some shintoism orders are exceptions to the rule.)
Well, that’s enough about Shintoism.
Today I would like to take you to one Buddhist deity who has been familiar to Japan, and one Taoist deity.
The first is 「明王 / Myōō」
Originally a philosophical idea by the Buddha, Buddhism has been influenced by Hinduism and Brahmanism, as well as by other religions, and has a variety of deities.
The left and right eyes are shifted up and down, meaning that they are looking at all of heaven and earth.
Myōō is one of these and is a rather strict deity.
He assists Dainichi Nyorai, the supreme deity in Buddhism, and guides those who do not adhere to Buddhist teachings with fiery anger, a hard-line? He has a hard-line aspect.
As a result, he has a very scary face full of anger.
There are about a dozen Myōō in Buddhism, but the most famous Myōōō in Japan is 不動明王 / Hudo Myōō. Hudo means ‘motionless’ or ‘unshakable’ and refers to ‘the deity who spreads the teachings of Buddhism with an unshakable will’.
(Only those with an interest in Japanese manga will understand this…)
The name of the main character ‘Fudo Akira / 不動明’ in the manga 「Devil Man」, known in many countries, is derived from this Fudo Myōō.
Fudo Myōō is an extremely strict and frightening being. Why is he so popular, even though he seems out of place among Japanese, who are supposed to like a looser religious outlook?
About 1200 years ago, Fudo Myōō was introduced to Japan by the high priest Kukai, who studied on the Chinese mainland and returned to Japan. Afterwards, Fudo Myōō became associated with mountain religions, perhaps because of his severe character.
The name “Fudo Falls” sometimes given to waterfalls in the mountains is a remnant of those days.
As time went by, the teachings of the mountain religion, which had been reserved for ascetic monks, spread to the general populace. As a result, statues of Fudo Myōō were erected near human settlements. Fudo Myōō became a familiar object of worship.
While the splendid statues of Buddha enshrined in large temples were also objects of veneration, Fudo Myōō, who was closer to daily life, was familiar to people as an existence they could rely on.
The added legend that Fudo Myōō would repel demons and disasters with the power of his anger may have been one of the reasons he won the faith of the people.
It may be a bit misleading to say, but Fudo Myōō may have been like a ‘taciturn father who is scary when angry but always warmly watches over you’.
There are many temples dedicated to Fudo Myōō, the most famous of which are “Naritasan Shinshoji Temple in Chiba Prefecture”, “Ryūsenji Temple・Meguro Fudo in Tokyo”, and “Choujuji Temple・Kihara Fudo in Kumamoto Prefecture”.
INABANA.jp recommends “Nakanozan Taishoji Temple・the Three Great Fudos in Fukushima Prefecture”, which has also been the subject of an article on the Japanese version of the website…
Now, the other deity is 「鍾馗 / Shōki」
He is considered to be an ancient Chinese Taoist deity. Although somewhat minor compared to Fudo Myoo, Shōki is an even more familiar deity whose portrait is displayed in houses and whose statue is installed on roofs.
It is not known when he was introduced to Japan, but it is believed to be around 1000 years ago.
The god has been worshipped as a deity with a high ability to ward off evil, and since its introduction to Japan, it has been popular for its ability to ward off smallpox and for academic success.
The blessing of academic success… However, Shōki has a history of failing her own examinations. There is a shocking legend that he committed suicide because of this failure…
China, 1300 years ago. Emperor Xuanzong fell ill with a serious fever and became ill in bed. Despite visits to renowned doctors and expensive medicines, he was unable to recover and his symptoms only became more severe.
One day, while sleeping in a daze, Xuanzong had a strange dream.
A kobold appeared in the court, misbehaving here and there and tormenting the people.
Xuanzong tried to catch and punish the kobolds, but he was powerless to do so.
While he was in trouble, a large ogre-like figure appeared from somewhere.
In no time at all, he caught the kobold and ate him up. Peace returned to the court.
Xuanzong thanked the big ogre-like figure and asked his name.
He said.
“My name is Shōki, and 100 years ago I failed an examination to become a government official and, ashamed of this, I took my own life.”
“But the emperor of the time took pity on me and gave my corpse a careful burial. I have come to repay his kindness…” 〜〜
When Xuanzong woke up, he found that his fever had completely broken and his illness was gone.
Impressed by the dream, Xuanzong invited a painter to paint Shōki’s image and made him an object of worship. The scale of the cult spread quietly and widely, as Shōki’s paintings were then distributed to his more successful subjects.
As there are few Taoist temples in Japan, there are not many opportunities to see statues of Shōki.
However, due to the influence of folklore, the custom of decorating houses with pictures of Shōki and praying for good health or placing small statues of Shōki on roofs to ward off bad luck became widespread during the Edo period.
Also, Shōki failed his exams, but that is why he is a friend to those who wish to take their academic exams… This is how people at the time interpreted it.
If you are lucky, you can still see Shōki standing on the roofs of old machiya houses in Kyoto and elsewhere …
Both Fudo Myōō and Shōki were relied upon by people as deities closer to their daily lives.
I believe that this was in keeping with the Japanese way of life, where they wished to be with God quietly in the depths of their hearts…