Comprehensive Research on Buddhism and God Worship Syncretism in Japan: An Asian Comparative Perspective

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26284015
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: History of thought
• Research Institution: Nagoya City University
• Principal Investigator: Yosdahi Kazuhiko 名古屋市立大学, 人文社会系研究科, 教授 (40230726)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 脊古 真哉 同朋大学, その他部局等, その他 (20448707) ; 荒見 泰史 広島大学, 総合科学研究科, 教授 (30383186) ; 藤原 崇人 関西大学, 付置研究所, 研究員 (50351250) ; 上島 享 京都大学, 文学研究科, 准教授 (60285244) ; 二階堂 善弘 関西大学, 文学部, 教授 (70292258) ; 佐藤 文子 佛教大学, 公私立大学の部局等, その他 (80411122)
• Research Collaborator: SEKIYAMA Maiko 加西市教育委員会
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 東洋日本思想史 / 神仏習合 / 仏教史 / 神信仰 / 道教 / 宗教儀礼 / 文化交流 / アジア宗教

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study considers similarities and differences between Buddhism ― god worship syncretism in Japan and in other Asian countries, contextualizing the former within East Asian religious culture. It consists of the following: (1) A discussion of Japan’s notion of spirits (kijin 鬼神), which originally came from that of China and subsequently fused with an Indian view of them, developing in new ways. (2) A comparison of the meaning of the Chinese words tian 天 (heaven), shen 神 (god), and fo 佛 (buddha) with concepts in Japan. (3) An elucidation of various aspects of the Khitans’ Buddhism ― god worship syncretism. (4) An elucidation of the characteristics of Kasuga Taisha and Ouyayamazumi Jinja. (5) An analysis of ritualistic summoning of gods in Japanese esoteric Buddhism, and a discussion of the similarities and differences between the idea of “god” in India, China, and Japan.

Free Research Field

人文学