 Ancient Japan was not a united country.  Instead Japan was divided into territories that were controlled by hundreds of different clans.  Each territory had its own nature god and goddess

 The variety of customs and beliefs eventually formed Japan’s earliest religion called Shinto (“Way of the gods”)

 Shinto is based on respect for the forces of nature and on the worship of ancestors  Worshipers believed in Kami – divine spirits that dwelled in nature.  Anything unusual or beautiful could be the home of Kami

 Believers often worshiped the emperor  Some believed they were the descendants of a god

 Buddhism and Shinto coexisted with each other in Japan  Buddhism spread throughout Japan causing for some of the rituals to mix  Buddhist rituals became Shinto rituals and Shinto gods and goddesses were worshiped in Buddhist temples

 What was the earliest religion of Japan?  What religion later came to Japan and Spread amongst the people?  Why were Shinto and Buddhism important to the development of Japanese culture?

Location and place  Mountainous Japanese archipelago (four main islands)  Sea of Japan or East Sea between Japan and Asian mainland  Proximity to China and Korea Influence of Chinese culture  Writing  Architecture  Buddhism

Shinto  Ethnic religion unique to Japan  Importance of natural features, forces of nature, and ancestors  State religion; worship of the emperor  Coexistence with Buddhism