Japanese+Architecture+Temples

Japanese Temples and Shrines 

Japanese Temples resemble many beliefs and traditions that are native to Japan. They resemble Chinese temples in many ways because the original Japanese temples were built to resemble and copy the Chinese Temples. The temples are very important to the Shinto and Buddhist  religions. While they are both considered Japanese temples, where the temples are located and their content vary depending on their orgin and what their intent use is defines them as either Shinto temples or Buddhist temples.

The Japanese citizens usually build Buddhist temples as a place to worship Buddha. They are usually easy to find, considering about 80% of Japan's citizen’s practice this religion. In recent day Japan, some temples are used as tourist sites for tourists to tour, and are no longer a place of worship. Buddhist temples are usually divided into six different parts.

__Buddhist Temples__

The Main Hall is the entryway to Buddhist temples. They are full of statues which people worship. The statues are sacred objects and are a very important and symbolic to the Buddhist religion.

 Lecture Halls are located behind the main hall. They are usually a place of gathering in which important religious leaders come together. Like the Main Hall, they are full of sacred objects for worship.

The Pagoda follows the Lecture Hall. The Pagoda is a structure that represents an Indian stupa. They are usually three or five stories high, and they have a relic of the original Buddha.

A Gate follows the Pagoda, which mark the entrance to the temple grounds. There is usually one main gate, but there can be smaller gates depending on the size of the temple grounds.

The Bell, which is exactly what its name says, is very important for Buddhist traditions.   They are rung 108 times for Buddha’s 108 concepts of desires.

The final part of the temple is the cemetery, which has ancestors and descendants of the residents near the temple. The graves are usually visited in equinox weeks and anniversaries.

To learn more about Buddhist temples, click [|here].

__Shinto Shrines__

Shinto Shrines are very different than Buddhist temples. They are usually located in the woods and are meant to represent nature. Shinto shrines are also meant to be a place to worship, but unlike Buddhist temples, they worship kami. (Kami is Shinto God.)

Shinto shrines are  very ceremonial. They are usually visited to pray for kami. Also, they are visited on special holidays like New Year's Eve and other festivals that are important to the Shinto people. Their sacred objects are usually kept in the middle of the shrine, where no person is able to view it.

The Torii is the entry to the shrine. There is usually one main Torii, but this is not always the case. When there is more than one entry, several toriiis surround the shrine.

Before entering the actual shrine, you have to go through the purification process, which is located in  the purification trough. This is meant to purify and heal you.

The Main and Offering Hall is located in the middle of the shrine. This is where visitors pray to the kami. The sacred objects are located here in the middle of the main hall, where they are not to be seen by anyone.

The stage is located after the main hall, where traditional Japanese plays are performed. This is located outdoors and is easily accessed by visitors to the shrine.

Ceremonial symbols are spread throughout the whole shrine. Omikujis are little pieces of papers that are hung on the trees and tell fortunes to whoever reads them. they vary from great luck ahead to extremely bad luck. Shimenawas are long ropes with white papers hanging from them and they are usually hung from the torii gates. They are meant to bring good luck and fortune to whoever passes by them.

 To learn more about Shinto Shrines, click [|here].

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By Camila