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3 imperial treasures
三種の神器
三種神器
alternative words: Sanshu no jingi, 3 imperial regalia, Sanshunojingi
keywords:
mythology
,
religion
,
thing
related topics:
Yamato dynasty
,
Tumulus
,
Amaterasu
,
Susano
,
Yamata no Orochi
,
Heian period
,
Battle of Dannoura
explanation: As a great number of sabers and mirrors found from tumulus testify, Japanese had given them a mythical power. "Kusanagi no tsurugi", saber found by Susano from a tail of "Yamata no orochi" and "Yata no Kagami", religious item used by goddess Amaterasu, were considered 2 imperial regalia. Since Heian period, Yasakani no magatama (necklace of jade) has been added. Those 3 treasures sank at the battle of "Dan no ura" in 1185 but some claim that they should be replica.
Buddhism
仏教
alternative words: Japanese Buddhism, Bukkyo, Bukkyou
keywords:
buddhism
,
religion
related topics:
Nihonshoki
,
Nara period
,
Heian period
,
Kamakura period
,
Esoteric Buddhism
,
Shintoism
,
Zen
related web sites:
http://www.kotobuki-p.co.jp
,
http://ss4.inet-osaka.or.jp/~kissyo/
,
http://www.geisya.or.jp/~tf109/hotoke/
,
http://www.janis.or.jp/users/sairyuta/tera/jiten.html
explanation: Nihonshoki says that it arrived to Japan in 552. According to the advent epoch, there exist 3 groups of sects. Nara Buddhism from Nara period was a national religion and their temples are around the ancient capitals. Esoteric Buddhism was introduced from China during Heian period and their temples are located in mountains like Koyasan and Hieisan. Kamakura Buddhism appeared in Kamakura period as a popular movement and their temples are located mostly in province.
En no ozunu
役の小角
役の行者
alternative words: Ennoozunu, Enno ozunu, En no kimi ozunu, En no gyoja, Ennogyoja, Enno gyoja
keywords:
famous person
,
mystery
,
religion
related topics:
Shugendo
,
Asuka period
,
Nara period
,
Ninja
,
Shoku nihongi
related web sites:
http://server1.seafolk.ne.jp/~enigma/ennoozunu.htm
explanation: Sorcerer of late Asuka and early Nara period. According to Shoku Nihongi, he practiced asceticism at Mt Katsuragi in Asuka region and was banished in 699 to Izu province because people would be troubled by his magic. Able to fly in sky, walk on waters or block others by thought, En no ozunu was considered the founder of Shugendo and venerated by Ninja. There exist many legends about him all over Japan.
Esoteric Buddhism
密教
alternative words: Mikkyo, Mikkyou
keywords:
buddhism
,
religion
related topics:
Buddhism
,
Nyorai
,
Bosatsu
,
Heian period
,
Kukai
,
Saicho
explanation: Buddhism school initiated in India around 7th century, 2 visiting Buddhist students, Saicho and Kukai, brought it from China at the beginning of Heian period. Associated to mountain faith, it became very popular and entered a conflict with preexistent Buddhism. So Saicho founded Tendai sect at Enryakuji in Mt Hiei while Kukai, Shingon sect at Kongobuji in Mt Koya. Related to Tibetan Buddhism, the doctrine says that every Buddha and Bostatu should be an avatar of Dainichi Nyorai.
Francisco de Xavier
フランシスコ・ザビエル
ザビエル
alternative words: Saint Francisco de Xavier, Francisco Xavier, Francis Xavier, Xavier
keywords:
famous person
,
foreigner
,
religion
related topics:
Sengoku period
,
Satsuma domain
related web sites:
http://www.mg21.co.jp/xavier450/
,
http://www.minc.ne.jp/hiwakisho/xavier/
explanation: Born in 1506 in a family of Spanish nobility. After studied at Paris university and founded Jesuits, he left Europe for missionary works in Asia: first south India then Malacca. There he met a Japanese, Anjiro and decided to go to Japan. In 1549, he reached Satsuma domain in south Kyushu and became the first Christian missionary. After having christianized the northern Kyushu with an aid of seignior Otomo Sorin, he left Japan for China and died there due to a fever in 1552.
Mikoshi
神輿
alternative words: Portable shrine, Portable shinto shrine
keywords:
festival
,
religion
,
thing
related topics:
Heian period
,
Shintoism
related web sites:
http://www.big.or.jp/~haru/
explanation: Originated from a palanquin to transport nobles, it was first used to transport a deity from Hachimangu shrine in Kyushu to Todaiji temple in Nara in 749. During Heian period, it became a popular practice to carry mikoshi to purify the land around a shrine in annual festival. Mikoshi is composed with an altar of about 50cm with a golden phoenix at the top and supported with 2 horizontal wooden bars of about 5m. The whole structure is carried by 20-30 persons, going zigzag and crying "wassho wassho".
Oni
鬼
alternative words: Demon, Fiend
keywords:
buddhism
,
mystery
,
religion
related topics:
Buddhism
,
Onmyodo
,
Nara period
,
Heian period
,
Setsubun
related web sites:
http://www.geocities.co.jp/SilkRoad-Desert/7644/
,
http://www.people.or.jp/~yoshiyasu/index.htm
,
http://www.waw.ne.jp/youkai/9802/trad.DBindex.html
,
http://www.park.org:8888/Japan/CSK/hyakki/
explanation: Initially it designated spiritual and neutral beings like gods or death's souls. Under the influence of Buddhism in Nara period, it became awful creatures who fill the hell, then everything of demoniac and harmful even in the current world. Finally when the society became unsecured at the end of Heian period, it designated brigands or bandits. Oni is frequently represented with 2 horns and tiger's fur because Oni's gate should be bull-tiger direction (ushi-tora), i.e. north-east according to Onmyodo.
Onmyodo
陰陽道
陰陽道
alternative words: Onmyo-do, Onmyo do, Onmyoudo, Onmyou-do, Onmyou do
keywords:
china
,
mystery
,
ninja
,
philosophy
,
religion
related topics:
In-yo go-gyo setsu
,
Abe no Seimei
,
Heian period
,
Ninjutsu
,
Oni
,
Fusui
related web sites:
http://www.bekkoame.ne.jp/~skydog/
,
http://www.people.or.jp/~seimei/
explanation: Astrology of Chinese origin. It interprets every human activity and fate with an astrology based on Inyo gogyo setsu It had been introduced into Japan in the 7th century by Buddhist priests, but unable to build complex astrological apparatus, only the divination branch had known a significant development. After Heian period, it has been degenerated to simple popular superstitions. Abeno Seimei (921-1005) is the most famous specialist of this discipline.
Sanja festival
三社祭
alternative words: Sanjamatsuri, Sanjasai, Sanja matsuri, Sanja sai
keywords:
festival
,
religion
related topics:
Shintoism
,
Kamakura period
,
Mikoshi
related web sites:
http://www.asakusa.net
,
http://www.geocities.co.jp/HeartLand-Gaien/1428/
,
http://asakusa.pos.to
explanation: One of the 3 major shinto festivals in Tokyo along with Kanda festival and Sanno festival. It occurs at Asakusa shrine located inside Asakusa temple on the 3rd weekend of each May. According to shrine's annals, it began during Kamakura period from an oracle to worship 3 founders of Asakusa temple. It is really impressive to observe a parade of more than 100 portable shrines (Mikoshi). Binzasara dance shown at the start of Sanja festival is well known, too.
Sennin
仙人
alternative words: Sen nin, Xianren, Xian ren, Hsienjen, Hsien jen
keywords:
china
,
religion
,
title
related topics:
Taoism
,
Asuka period
,
Nara period
related web sites:
http://www2s.biglobe.ne.jp/~xianxue/
explanation: The main character of Taoism, owing supernatural power such as eternal life and flying capacity, acquired from practicing asceticism. The concept was imported from China during Asuka period and became popular during Nara period. Though there was no official implementation of Taoism in Japan, many aristocrats were interested in it such as Emperor Tenmu. Yoshino mountains located in the south of Nara basin was a favorite training ground to become Sennin.
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17 articles extracted from postgresql database.
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