Who is Worshiped  at Shrines?

Behind the Scenes | 神社には誰が祭られているのか

Who is Worshiped at Shrines?

Foreign Student (hereinafter FS): Most Japanese seem to visit a shrine or temple in the New Year. Are the Japanese that religious? Teacher (hereinafter T): Though people usher in the New Year by making wishes at a shrine or temple, for the majority this is a New Year’s event, rather than something religious. FS: I understand that temples are Buddhist, but who is worshiped at a shrine? T: Shrines are Shinto buildings where deities are worshiped; these range from the Sun god to the spirits of impressive natural features such as mountains, rivers, rocks, and forests, to animals, and even great human beings – anything that inspires awe or a sense of mystery in human beings. The population of Japan is about 130 million, and it is said that over 90 million people visit temples or shrines. FS: Are there any Shinto shrines in Tokyo where humans are honored? T: Of course. The most famous of these is the Meiji Shrine near Harajuku Station. With more than three million visitors in the New Year each year, it is the most popular shrine in Japan. Worshiped here is the Emperor Meiji – the symbol of the Meiji Restoration that led Japan to modernize. Togo Shrine is also located nearby. There Admiral Togo is deified. Admiral TOGO Heihachiro surprised the world by defeating the Russian Baltic fleet – at that time the world’s most powerful naval force – at the Sea of Japan Naval Battle. He was revered as a hero just like British admiral Horatio NELSON – who defeated the allied forces of France and Spain at the Battle of Trafalgar. FS: Are there any other such shrines in Tokyo? T: The Nogi Shrine is located in Akasaka. Commander NOGI Maresuke – who like Togo led Japan to victory in the Russo-Japan war – is honored here. The battle of 203-Meter Heights on a hill above Port Arthur – Russia’s most strategically important military base – was fierce. He impressed the people of the world by not disgracing his vanquished foe Russian General Anatoly Stoessel in accordance with the bushido code of honor. By killing himself and his wife after the death of the Emperor Meiji, he is also known for being a loyal retainer. FS: Every time ministers visit Yasukuni Shrine, it sparks an international controversy. Who is honored there? T: This shrine was built to enshrine dead soldiers from the Boshin War and other wars that took place during the Meiji Restoration, later however, those who died defending the nation were also included. Soldiers who died in the Second World War were also prayed for. It was considered to be an honor to be enshrined here, even though the government used this to boost public support for the war effort. As Prime Minister TOJO Hideki and others who were condemned as class A war criminals at the Tokyo Trial were also enshrined later on, China and Korea – countries that had suffered in the war – raised their objections to this. On the other hand, there are members of congress and other people who say that visiting the shrine is an internal issue and a question of personal choice, and that it is only natural that the nation and its citizens display respect for those who died for their country. Putting this into context is the Japanese view of life and death; that the dead cannot be blamed after they pass away. In any case, you might say that the New Year’s visit to a shrine or temple is an important event that reflects Japanese polytheistic religious beliefs.

留学生りゅうがくせい
ryuugakusei
foreign student
以下いかりゅう):
ikaryuu
hereinafter FS
正月しょうがつ
shougatsu
the New Year
には
niha
in
ほとんどの
hotonndono
most
日本人にほんじん
nihonnjinnga
Japanese
神社じんじゃ
jinnjya
(a) shrine
ya
or
てら
oterani
temple
初詣はつもうでかける
hatsumoudeni dekakeru
to visit
ようです
youdesu
to visit
が、
ga
[but]
日本人にほんじん
nihonnjinnha
the Japanese
そんなに
sonnnani
that
信心深しんじんぶかいの
shinnjinnbukai
religious
ですか。
desuka
are ?
先生せんせい以下いかせん):
sennsei ika senn
teacher hereinafter T
新年しんねん
sinnnennwo
the New Year
むかえるにあたり
mukaeruniatari
(people) usher in <celebrate>
神社じんじゃ
jinnjya
(a) shrine
ya
or
てら
otera
temple
ni
at
ねがごと
negaigotowo
wishes
します
shimasu
by making
が、
ga,
though
大多数だいたすうひと
daitasuuno hito
(the) majority
にとっては
nitotte
for
宗教しゅうきょうじょう
shukyoujyou
something religious
というより、
toiuyori,
rather than
新年しんねんのイベント
shinnnennno ibennto
(a) New Year’s event
です。
desu
(this) is
りゅう
ryuu
FS
てら
oteraha
temples
仏教ぶっきょう
bukkyouto
(are) Buddhist
to
that
わかります
wakarimasu
(I) understand
が、
ga,
but
神社じんじゃ
jinnjyaha
(at a) shrine
だれ
darewo
who
まつっているのですか。
matutteiru nodesuka
is worshiped ?
せん
senn
T
神社じんじゃ
jinnjyaha
Shrines
神道しんとう建物たてもの
sinntouno tatemono
Shinto buildings
で、
de,
are where
神様かみさま
kamisamaga
deities
まつられています。
matsurareteimasu
are worshiped
太陽たいよう
taiyou
the Sun (god)
から、
kara,
from
人間にんげん
ninngenn
human beings
にとって
nitotte
in
おそおおい、
osoreooi
anything that inspires awe
あるいは
aruiha
or 
神秘的しんぴてき
shinnpitekini
mystery
かんじられる
kannjirareru
a sense of
やま
yama
mountains
かわ
kawa
rivers
いわ
iwa
rocks
もり
mori
(and) forests
などの
nadono
such as
大自然だいしぜん
daishizenn
(to the spirits of) impressive natural features
さらに
sarani
to
動物どうぶつ
doubutsu,
animals
また
mata
and
偉大いだい
idaina
great
人物じんぶつ
jinnbutsu
human beings
さえ
sae
even
ふくまれています。
fukumareteimasu
(these) range
日本にほん
nihonn
Japan
no
of
人口じんこう
jinnkouha
(the) population
やく
yaku
about
1億3千万人いちおくさんぜんまんにん
ichiioku'sannzennmann'ninn
one hundred thirty million [people]
です
desu
is
が、
ga,
and
9千万人きゅうせんまんにん
kyuusennmann'ninn
ninety million people
以上いじょう
ijyou ga
over
参拝さんぱいする
sannpai suru
visit (temples or shrines)
to
that
いわれています。
iwareteimasu.
(it) is said
りゅう
ryuu
FS
人間にんげん
ninngenn ga
humans
かみとされる
kami to sareru
(where)are honored
神社じんじゃ
jinnjya ha
(any) Shinto shrines
東京とうきょう
toukyou
Tokyo
にも
nimo
in
あるのですか。
arunodesuka.
are there ?
せん
senn
T
もちろん
mochironn
of course
あります。
arimasu
一番いちばん
ichibann
the most
有名ゆうめいなのは
yuumei nanoha
famous (of these)
原宿はらじゅくえき
harajyuku eki
Harajuku Station
ちかくにある
chikaku niaru
near
明治めいじ神宮じんぐう
meiji jinnguu
the Meiji Shrine
です。
desu.
is
初詣はつもうで
hatsumoude
the New Year
no
in
参拝者さんぱいしゃ
sannpaisha ha
visitors
毎年まいとし
maitoshi
each year
300万人さんびゃくまんにん
sannbyakumann'ninn
three million [people]
以上いじょう
ijyou
more than
で、
de,
with
日本にほん
nihonn
(in) Japan
最多さいた
saita
the most (popular shrine)
です。
desu.
(it) is
ここに
kokoni
here
まつられているのは、
matsurareteirunoha,
worshiped
日本にほん
nihonnwo
Japan
近代化きんだいか
kinndaika he
to modernize
みちびいた
michibiita
(that) led
明治めいじ維新いしん
meiji ishinn
(the) Meiji Restoration
no
of
象徴しょうちょう
shouchou
(the) symbol
となった
tonatta
[who became]
明治めいじ天皇てんのう
meiji tennnou
(the) Emperor Meiji
です。
desu.
is
ちかくには
chikaku niha
nearby
東郷とうごう神社じんじゃ
rougou jinnjya
Togo Shrine
mo
also
あります。
arimasu.
is located
そこには
sokoniha
there
東郷とうごう提督ていとく
tougou teitoku ga
Togo Admiral
まつられています。
matsurarete imasu.
is deified
東郷とうごう平八郎へいはちろう提督ていとく
tougou heihachirou teitoku ha
Togo  Heihachiro Admiral
当時とうじ
touji,
at that time
世界せかい
sekai
world’s
屈指くっし海軍かいぐん
kussino kaigunn
the most powerful naval force
といわれた
toiwareta
[regarded]
ロシアろしあ
roshia no
Russian
バルチックばるちっく艦隊かんたい
baruchikku kanntai wo
(the) Baltic fleet
日本海にほんかい
nihonnkai
the Sea of Japan
海戦かいせん
kaisenn
Naval Battle
de
at
やぶり、
yaburi,
by defeating
世界せかい
sekaiwo
(the) world
おどろかせました。
odorokasemashita.
surprised
トラファルガーとらふぁるがー海戦かいせん
torafaruga-kaisenn
(the) Battle of Trafalgar
de
at
フランス・スペインふらんす・すぺいん
furannsu supeinn
France and Spain
no
of
連合軍れんごうぐん
renngougunn wo
(the) allied forces
やぶった
yabutta
(who) defeated
イギリスいぎりす
igirisuno
British
ホレーショ・ネルソンほれーしょ・ねるそん
hore-sho nerusonn
Horatio Nelson
提督ていとく
teitoku
admiral
のように
noyouni
just like
英雄えいゆう
eiyuu
(a) hero
として
toshite
as
あがめられました。
agameraremashita.
(he) was revered
りゅう
ryuu
FS
東京とうきょう
toukyou
Tokyo
には
niha
in
ほか
hokani
any other
そのような
sonoyouna
such
神社じんじゃ
jinnjya ha
shrines
ありますか。
arimasuka.
are there ?
せん
senn
T
赤坂あかさか
akasaka
Akasaka
には
niha
in
乃木のぎ神社じんじゃ
nogijinnjya ga
(the) Nogi Shrine
あります。
arimasu
is located
東郷とうごう
tougou
Togo
おなじく
to onajiku
(who) like
日露にちろ戦争せんそう
nichiro sennsou
(the) Russo-Japan war
de
in
日本にほん
nihonn wo
Japan
勝利しょうり
shouri
victory
ni
to
みちびいた
michibiita
led
乃木のぎ希典まれすけ司令官しれいかん
nogi maresuke sireikann ga
Nogi Maresuke Commander
まつられています。
matsurareteimasu.
is honored (here)
ロシアろしあ
roshia no
Russia’s
最大さいだい
saidaino
most
軍事ぐんじ拠点きょてん
gunnji'kyotenn,
strategically important military base
旅順りょじゅんこう
ryojyunnkou wo
Port Arthur
見下みおろす
miorosu
on (a) hill above <over looking>
二百三にひゃくさん高地こうち
nihyakusann kouchi
two hundred three Meter Heights
no
of
たたかいは
tatakai ha
(the) battle
壮絶そうぜつ
souzetsu
fierce
でした。
deshita
was
敗者はいしゃとなった
haisha to natta
(his) vanquished
ロシアろしあ
roshia no
(foe) Russian
ステッセルすてっせる将軍しょうぐん
sutesseru syougunn wo
(Anatoly) Stoessel General
はずかしめること
hazukashimerukoto
disgracing
なく、
naku,
by not
武士道ぶしどう精神せいしん
bushidou seisinn
(the) bushido code of honor
でもてなし
demonashi
in accordance with
世界せかい
sekai
(the) world
no
of
人々ひとびと
hitobito wo
(the) people
感動かんどうさせました。
kanndou sasemashita
(he) impressed
明治めいじ天皇てんのう
meiji tennnou
(the) Emperor Meiji
no
of
死後しご
shigo,
(the) death after
つま
tsuma
(his) wife
とも
to tomoni
and
いのちった
inochi wo tatta
by killing himself
忠臣ちゅうしん
chuushinn
(being a) loyal retainer
としても
toshitemo
for also
られます。
siraremasu.
(he) is known
りゅう
ryuu
FS
閣僚かくりょう
kakuryou ga
ministers
参拝さんぱいする
sannpai suru
visit
たびに
tabini
every time
国際的こくさいてき
kokusaiteki na
international
論争ろんそう
ronnsou ni
a(n) controversy
なる
naru
(it) sparks
靖国やすくに神社じんじゃ
yasukuni jinnjya ha
Yasukuni Shrine
だれ
darewo
who
まつっているのですか。
matutteiru nodesuka.
is honored (there)?
せん
senn
T
明治めいじ維新いしん
meiji ishinn
(the) Meiji Restoration
いた過程かてい
ni itaru katei de
(that) took place during
戊辰ぼしん戦争せんそう
boshinn sennsou
(the) Boshin War
など
nado
and other wars
no
from
戦死者せんししゃ
sennshisha wo
dead soldiers
まつるために
matsuru tameni
to enshrine
つくられました
tsukuraremashita
(this shrine) was built
が、
ga,
however
その
sonogo ha
later
くに
kuni wo
(the) nation
まもるために
mamoru tameni
defending
くなった
nakunatta
(who) died
ひと
hito
those
mo
also
くわえられました。
kuwaeraremashita.
were included
だい世界せかい大戦たいせん
dainiji sekaitaisenn
the Second World War
de
in
くなった
nakunatta
(who) died
兵士へいし
heisi
soldiers
mo
also
まつられました。
matsuraremashita.
were prayed for
靖国やすくに神社じんじゃ
yasukuni jinnjya ni
here <Yasukuni Shrine>
まつられることは
matsurareru kotoha
to be enshrined
栄誉えいよ
eiyo to
to be (an) honor
されました
saremashita
(it) was considered
が、
ga,
even though
政府せいふ
seifu ga
(the) government
戦意せんい高揚こうようのために
senni'kouyou notameni
to boost public support for (the) war effort
利用りようした
riyoushita
used (this)
側面そくめんもあります。
sokumenn moarimasu.
[aspect also having]
のち
nochi ni
later on
東京とうきょう裁判さいばん
toukyou saibann
(the) Tokyo Trial
de
at
A級えーきゅう戦犯せんぱん
e-kyuu sennpann
class A war criminals
to
as
された
sareta
(who) were condemned
東条とうじょう英機ひでき総理そうり大臣だいじん
toujyou hideki souri daijinn
Tojo Hideki Prime Minister
など
nado
and others
mo
also
まつられたこと
matsuraretakoto
were enshrined
から、
kara,
as
被害国ひがいこくである
higaikoku dearu
countries (that) had suffered (in the war)
中国ちゅうごく
chuugoku,
China
韓国かんこく
kankoku
(and) Korea
から
kara
[from]
批判ひはん
hihannga
(their) objections
こりました。
okorimashita.
raised (to this)
一方いっぽうで、
ippou de,
on the other hand
参拝さんぱい
sannpai ha
visiting (the shrine)
国内こくない問題もんだい
kokunai monndai
(an) internal issue
である
dearu
is
とも
to tomoni
and
個人こじん
kojinn
personal choice
no
of
問題もんだい
monndai
(a) question
とし、
toshi,
[is] and that
くに
kuni
(their) country
のために
notameni
for
くなった
nakunatta
(who) died
ひと
hito
those
ni
for
国家こっか
kokka
(the) nation
ya
and
国民こくみん
kokuminn ga
(its) citizens
敬意けいい
keii wo
respect
ひょうするのは
hyousuru noha
display
当然とうぜん
touzenn da
(it) is only natural (that)
to
that
主張しゅちょうする
shuchou suru
(who) say
議員ぎいん
giinn
members of congress
ya
and
ひと
hito mo
other people
います。
imasu.
there are
この背景はいけいには、
kono haikei niha,
putting this into context
んでしまえば
shinndeshimaeba
after (they) pass away
それ以上いじょうわない
soreijyou ha towanai
(that) the dead cannot be blamed
日本人にほんじん
nihonnjinnno
Japanese
死生観しせいかん
siseikann ga
(the) view of life and death
あります。
arimasu.
is
いずれにしても、
izurenishitemo,
in any case
初詣はつもうで
hatsumoude ha
(the) New Year’s visit (to a shrine or temple)
日本人にほんじん
nihonnjinn no
Japanese
多神教たしんきょう
tashinnkyou no
polytheistic
宗教観しゅうきょうかん
shuukyoukann wo
religious beliefs
反映はんえいしている
hannei shiteiru
(that) reflects
一大行事いちだいぎょうじ
ichidai'gyouji
is an important event
to
that
いえるでしょう。
ieru deshou.
(you) might say

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