Hawiian Religion V1 S Shintonism

Similarities Hawaiian ReligionV.S. Shintonism with Animism + Buddhism : 

Similarities Hawaiian Religion V.S. Shintonism with Animism + Buddhism Yuiko Miyazaki

Introduction: 

Introduction Purpose for this project: To find similarities between Hawaiian religion & major Japanese religion. Japanese religion mixes with Shintonism, Animism, and Buddhism. Compare two different regional religion from seven different points

Polytheistic: 

Polytheistic Hawaiian Religion Believing in more that 40,000 Gods. 5 main Gods Kane…Sunlight, fresh water, natural life Ku… Peace, fertility, clouds, winds, rain, & seas Kanaloa…Ocean depths Pele…Fire, volcano Guardian god The spirits protecting family (ex.) sharks, owl, rocks etc. Believing that God resides in those objects

Polytheistic (Cont.): 

Polytheistic (Cont.) Shintonism with Animism + Buddhism Believing in more that 8 million kami Considering almost anything has a spirit (ex.) stones, trees, wind, rain, & even words. Words have spirit? I was told not to use bad words because bad words create bad words of spirit, “kotodama.” Then, they do bad things to me.

Polytheistic (Cont.): 

Polytheistic (Cont.) Gods reside in a grain of rice? Major Kami Amaterasu…the sun goddess Tsukuyomi…the moon god Inari… the god of rice & fertility I was told not to leave even a grain of rice in my rice bowl because 7 Gods live in each grain of rice. If I don’t eat and waist it, there will be much unfortunate in my life.

Polytheistic (Cont.): 

Polytheistic (Cont.) Susanoo…the god of storms Sarutahiko…kami of earth Fujin…the god of the wind Seven lucky Gods Believing that they bring many fortune to us. Putting a picture of these Gods to make good things happen to us

Polytheistic (Cont.): 

Polytheistic (Cont.) Daikokuten…God of harvest & good fortune Ebisu… God of harvest & fortune for family businesses Bishamonten…God of plenty & courage Benzaiten…Goddess of wisdom Fukurokuju…God of longevity & fulfillment Jurohjin…God of harmony at home & lngevity Hotei…God of peace & luck

Harmony: 

Harmony Hawaiian Religion Mana --God’s force, Supernatural power -- This force exists in trees, wind, rocks etc. --This force controls human and nature Pono --Meaning universal harmony; seeking for harmony between every creature and the entity --Meaning the proper balance among the gods, the land, and the people.

Harmony (Cont.): 

Harmony (Cont.) --Disruption of Pono Resulting in tsunami, wars, eruption of volcano, etc. --Personification…Gods are angry, so natural disaster such as above occurs. --Human beings are just a part of nature.

Harmony (Cont.): 

Harmony (Cont.) Shintonism with Animism + Buddhism Kami (Similar to Mana in Hawaiian Religion) --This force controls nature --Nature’s sudden changes is explained by Kami --This force is more like other power than inner power --Nature is something humans can’t control. --Necessary to keep good relationship with nature, Kami --If fail, offerings are given to Kami to make it calm down.

Festivals: 

Festivals Hawaiian Religion During November for about 1 month Playing games Accompanied with music Aim to make lands take a rest & thank to the Gods

Festivals (Masturi): 

Festivals (Masturi) Shintonism with Animism + Buddhism During the time of coming the farming season, harvest and local historical events Holding over several days (3 to 4 days average) Shrine’s Kami is carried through the town in mikoshi (palanquins). Accompanied by drum, music and decorated floats. Aim to celebrate good harvest & thank to the Gods

Festivals (Masturi): 

Festivals (Masturi) Festival Floats Mikoshi

Use of Natural Objects for Purification: 

Use of Natural Objects for Purification Hawaiian Religion Ti leave Wrapping offering in order to keep the evil spirits away Salt Mixing with sea salt & fresh water for rituals of cleasing Ti Leave

Use of Natural Objects for Purification (Cont.): 

Use of Natural Objects for Purification (Cont.) Shintonism with Animism + Buddhism Salt Used by purification Water At the entrance of shrines, the purification fountain is placed. Rinsing your hands and mouth Purification Fountain

Offerings: 

Offerings Hawaiian Religion Depending on what a person wishes (ex.) Good harvest rice Good fishing fish For rain & agricultural fertility (ex.) pigs, vegetables, and tapa (bark cloth) to the God, Lono Offerings are important to make their wishes come true & to maintain good relationships with nature.

Offerings (Cont.): 

Offerings (Cont.) Shintonism with Animism + Buddhism Throwing a coin ( any amount) Into the offering box at shrines Offering food called “shinsen” meaning fresh Rice, rice wine, water, & salt Offering leaves and flowers This is important to make their wishes come true & maintain good relationship with nature. Offering Box

Places for worship: 

Places for worship Hawaiian Religion Heiau (Temples) --Place for offering --Size varies; single houses surrounded by a wooden fence to the massive open-air temples with teraces & large stone platforms --There is separated heiau for agriculture one and war one. Built with natural objects & adjust in nature Heiau

Place of Worship (Cont.): 

Place of Worship (Cont.) Shintonism with Animism + Buddhism Shrines/Tempes --Public Shrines are made in wood. --Private ones are usually places at home. Called “kamidana” meaning kami shelf Offering fresh food (ex. Rice, water etc) My grandpa offers rice every morning at kamidana before we eat rice. The point is that the first rice should be offered. After we touch or eat rice, that rice is no longer appropriate for offering. Kamidana

Place for Worship (Cont.): 

Place for Worship (Cont.) Casual Shinto Shrine Formal Shinto Shrine Built with natural objects & adjust in nature

Theology: 

Theology Hawaiian Religion Traditional gods are in rocks, trees, etc. so we are able to talk to them. Not premised on original sin No need a savior like Christianity No concept of burden of guilt & life time seeking atonement Believing in the existence of evil spirits and want to keep away from them by purification Humans are good and having an idea of spirit

Theology (Cont.): 

Theology (Cont.) Shintonism with Animism + Buddhism No absolute right & wrong Optimistic faith Humans are thought to be fundamentally good Evil is believed to be caused by evil spirits The purpose of most Shinto rituals is to keep away evil spirits by purification, prayers & offerings to the Kami. No concept of sin in Humans & having an idea of spirit

Conclusion: 

Conclusion Similarities in Hawaiian Religion & Shintonism with Animism + Buddhism Polytheistic Harmony Importance of relationship with nature (=supernatural force & Gods) Festivals To thank to Gods for benefits people gain Use of Natural Objects for Purification Leaves, salt and water (natural objects) are used.

Conclusion (Cont.): 

Conclusion (Cont.) Offerings To make people’s wishes come true & maintain good relationship with nature (=supernatural force & Gods) Places for Worship Build with natural objects, such as wood & try to make them adjust in nature Theology No concept of sin in Humans & focusing of ideas of spirits

Conclusion (Cont.): 

Conclusion (Cont.) Because of major seven similarities, Hawaiian religion and Shintonim with Animist and Buddhism in Japan share common characters. Even though there are some differences between two religions, both of them especially emphasize the relationship between nature and humans. Nature is a big frame, and humans just reside inside that. Thus, both religions can’t strength their spirits without thinking of interconnection with nature. Because of this idea, if humans considered more importance of communication and harmony with nature, we could avoid many of the global environmental problems we confront today.

Works Cited: 

Works Cited Ahu'ena Heiau. (2006). HawaiianWeb. Retrieved Nov 11, 2007 from http://www.hawaiiweb.com/hawaii/html/sites/ahuena_heiau.html Ancient Hawaiian Gods. (2003). Retrieved Oct 28, 2007 from http://hawaiiandance.com/gods.htm Goulart, Catherine. (2007). What Hawaii Travel Guides Don’t Tell You. Retrieved Nov 1, 2007 from http://www.helium.com/tm/238827/aikapu-ancient-hawaiian-religionaikapu Hi-Chi-Fu-Ku-Jin. Retrieved Nov 11, 2007 from http://www.page.sannet.ne.jp/hifu/ENG.html

Works Cited (Cont.): 

Works Cited (Cont.) (Kepalo, Personal Communication, Sep 24, 2007). (Pang, Benton Kealii, Personal Communication, Nov 1, 2007). (Personal Communication, Oct 2, 2007). Religion in Japan. (2007). Japan-guide.com. Retrieved Oct 28, 2007 from http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e629.html Religious Concept. (2004). LiveJournal. Retrieved Nov 1, 2007 from http://momentbymoment.livejournal.com/1310.html

Works Cited (Cont.): 

Works Cited (Cont.) Visiting a Shrine or Temple. (2007). Japan Roads. Retrieved Nov 11, 2007 from http://www.japanroads.com/traveltips/shrines_temples.htm (Wendt, Mahealani, personal communication, Oct 3, 2007).