Japanese are Shinto AND Buddhist? How? Haguro Shugendo and religion in Japan with the Dewa Sanzan.

[@Saturn-xs7ix]

Thank you for the informative and very detailed video! I enjoyed it!

[@kiwiyamabushi]

Thanks for watching! It’s such a simple thing that not many people realise about Japan :)

[@flippingpenguin9049]

Incredibly informative and underrated

[@kiwiyamabushi]

Thank you!!

[@CJHolyoak]

Fascinating overview of a complex subject. And a lovely shot of the mountains at 4:00 as well. I spend roughly two thirds of my year in and around mountains and forests, albeit mainly wearing skis, hiking boots or riding a mountain bike.

[@kiwiyamabushi]

Thanks! That shot was taken from Yamadera in inland Yamagata. One of my favourite spots for filming / photography in the (general) area :) Sounds excellent, I think I need to do more of the same! There's a lot to explore around these parts, I'm looking to introduce it a bit more on this channel.

[@reikotompkins9295]

Thank you so much for your amazing explanation! We learned so much about important things. We are so happy to know many things which we didn’t know. Very interesting! Thank you, Tim! You are a great Yamabushi!

[@kiwiyamabushi]

Thanks Reiko! I’m so glad you were able to learn so much, it’s why I put this together :) it’s a Yamabushi’s job to get people out into nature, so I’m going to try my best to do that :)

[@nlunahisano]

excellent video. very good information, I do not know everything reported in the video. beautiful pictures. Thank you very much for sharing such an excellent video !!!

[@kiwiyamabushi]

Thanks for watching! I’m glad you enjoyed it!

[@village_mayor]

A very informative summary!! Now I understand why many jizo statue's heads have disappeared. There is a row of jizo statues in Nikko where much of the heads have disappeared. I thought many are due to erosion over time, but it makes sense by your explanation. I've been to Yamadera twice which you have shown in the video. These pilgrimage walks are a testament to the human spirit because they are not easy with so many steps. But you try.

[@kiwiyamabushi]

Thanks! Yes it’s quite horrendous indeed, and a lot of people don’t seem to realise why. I think I know the ones you’re talking about in Nikko, I may have a photo somewhere. But there are certainly a lot! Love Yamadera too, beautiful location and also full of history.

[@MMABreakdowns]

I've been practicing Buddhism for awhile now. Started with Nichiren because my grandparents practiced, but ultimately left after going deeper into my studies and learning more about other Buddhist practices, such as Vajrayan and Tendai. In the last two years I've also been studying things like Daoism and Animistic philosophies. So something like Shugendo, that mixes a lot of these ideas, definitely seems up my ally and I'd love to study more about it!

[@kiwiyamabushi]

Hi Myles! Thanks for your comment! Yep, Shugendo is right up your alley! For me, I don’t consider myself religious but find that the practical training out in nature is what really drives me. It’s the idea of appreciating nature and trying to learn from her that I think all humans can and have benefited from over the centuries. At the very least, it’s how indigenous communities have developed the world over, and I think they were definitely up to something.

[@MMABreakdowns]

@@kiwiyamabushi I definitely agree!

[@aclark903]

@@MMABreakdowns Nature was created by God.

[@jayantkamble6082]

Not only in Japan but in all Buddhist countries, Buddhism absorbed into local animism such as Bon Buddhism in Tibet, Nut worship Buddhism in Myanmar and Tao Buddhism in China etc. This is because Buddhism is non theistic philosophy, it is about practice of Ethics,Concentration and wisdom. The rituals or traditions are secondary things. My community in India also follow local folk animism or worship animist deities with Buddhist practices.

[@kiwiyamabushi]

I never really thought about it that way, and it’s so obvious now that you point it out! What’s the name of your local folk worship? I love how Buddhism is non theistic and so easily accessible, the teachings or realizations of Buddha are really quite practical or inspiring to live by.

[@jayantkamble6082]

@@kiwiyamabushi Actually folk religion in India don't have such recognition. Many folk beliefs have been absorbed into either mainstream Hinduism or Buddhism(minority only 1%). Folk religion is more like person beliefs with deities wheras organised religion like Buddhism play role as ethical philosophy, teaches morality,social humormy etc. Here Buddha is more like teacher. In my Folk religion, we worship mother nature/ earth deity, her name is Vasuda. Vasuda (literally means mother earth) is main deity in Indian folk Buddhism. Folk religion is originated into nature, close to nature. Nature love us like Mother, Nature is mother for us, we worship n respect Vasuda like own mother.

[@jayantkamble6082]

@@kiwiyamabushi So Buddhism is for meditation,Yoga,daily rituals and ethics wheras folk religion is for devotion of deities.

[@kiwiyamabushi]

Wow! I see! Yes that’s very similar to how it’s done in Japan!

[@kiwiyamabushi]

Yes, that is again similar, although Shugendo is probably the more practical part because of the training out in nature, but there are still tons of rituals involved

[@pix4japan]

Although I am fascinated with Meiji architecture, the dark side of nationalism and the attempt to separate the peaceful cohesion of Buddhism and Shintoism has always saddened me, which is why I am pleasantly surprised whenever i come across an old shrine that still has Buddhist motifs integrated into the shrine’s structure.

[@kiwiyamabushi]

Oh you’d love the Dewa Sanzan then. Well, yes and no. There are plenty of pre-Meiji buildings that survived because of the switch to Shintoism, but then again there are many that did not, including one temple that was home to more than 5000 monks. The townspeople are who we should really thank though. While the shrine switched to Shintoism, the townspeople didn’t buy it, and they still continued the traditions as they had been done for centuries. That’s why there are two schools of Yamabushi on the Dewa Sanzan now :) Shinto and Buddhist.

[@kumardaksh4043]

i love shinto and buddhist they both are best and there must be no intereference of nationalism in religion .Japan is beautiful and peaceful country

[@KSJLUX]

Kia ora from New Zealand. Japanese Buddhism and Shinto is intertwined with politics. A great summary I would like to share, It would be interesting to know how you think of the connection to Maori whakapapa too. Cheers

[@kiwiyamabushi]

Kia Ora! Thanks for your message! Yes, it is very much intertwined with politics, like I think Christianity is / has been in New Zealand, but Japan much more so! My Yamabushi master Master Hoshino visited Maori Iwi leaders in NZ a few years ago, and then they came here to Japan. I wasn’t there at the time, but Master Hoshino talks about it very fondly, and it sounds like there is a very deep mutual respect. Before COVID, Master Hoshino wanted to host a world indigenous cultures meeting here on the Dewa Sanzan, and it sounded like he already had support from NZ! For me, I would need to learn more about pre-colonial NZ Maori customs, although I assume they are very similar!

[@Peekingduck]

Thanks for sharing this. Please stay happy, healthy and safe 2021 and beyond

[@kiwiyamabushi]

No problem :) You're very welcome. I hope you have a great year and beyond too!

[@dvoyager5879]

Shinto already purged itself of the contamination and pollutions of Mahayana Buddhism during the Meiji Restoration Era.

[@kiwiyamabushi]

Huh, true! There's a lot of influence though!

[@brandonshukuri6487]

I would very much like to know the history of the warrior monks from Shugendo. Do you have any info on this? Do you practice bujutsu in modern Shugendo?

[@kiwiyamabushi]

Actually, so would I. I don't know much at all. I think it was more of a case of ninjas or other martial artists disguising themselves as yamabushi, but this is only a guess. I'll see what I can find!

[@1207rorupar]

New sub. The Yamabushi has ever fascinated me since I heard of it. Since I relatively recently became a Buddhist I'm not overly familiar with all Buddhist texts, but overall which branch of Buddhism (I'm guessing a branch of the Mahayana sect) is more close to the Yamabushi, or which Buddhist texts are the most important for the Yamabushi?

[@kiwiyamabushi]

Hey! Thanks for the sub! Yamabushi or Shugendo is mainly practiced in Esoteric Buddhist Temples (Shingon or Tendai) which are classified under Mahayana Buddhism. The temple on Mt. Haguro that still practices the 10 Realms of Buddhism training, known as the Akinomine Autumn Peak Ritual, is classified as a Shugen temple, meaning they are neither Shingon nor Tendai. We practice with Dewa Sanzan Shrine, doing the Shrine's version of the Akinomine Autumn Peak Ritual, so we're Shinto in that regard, and I also practice with Daishobo Pilgrim Lodge (under Master Hoshino), which is a combination of the Shinto and Buddhist ways. We follow Master Hoshino's way which is all putting yourself out in nature and reflecting on what you feel. This means that it can't be learned from a book, so we don't have many texts at all. However, Master Hoshino has released three books now (the latest just last week) all in Japanese that give an excellent background into our training. I'm working on a translation of the first as we speak.

[@1207rorupar]

@@kiwiyamabushi thanks for the answer! I can't wait for the translations to be ready, I'm really looking forward to them. As I live in Mexico, there's just no way to learn the Yamabushi way here unless a Yamambushi came here and scouted Mexican mountain (of which there are many, but security right now is an issue) for practice and training, which leaves traveling to Japan the only option, which is both a little costly and not very feasable with the time required if you have a regular job. So thanks for answering, really looking forward to your translations, and I guess I'll keep reading and learning Mahayana Buddhism in the meantime

[@kiwiyamabushi]

Thanks! Before COVID-19, Master Hoshino travelled to Brazil a few times to do Yamabushi training there. That might be an easier option if you’re in Mexico. There’s a Brazilian Yamabushi who would come here to the Dewa Sanzan each year to join us in training. He has a KZbin channel too called Kangendo Cursos e Terapias, so you may be able to reach him there. How is your Portuguese?

[@1207rorupar]

@@kiwiyamabushi thanks for the reply! My Portuguese is non-existant, the only languages I can understand reliably besides my native Spanish are English and Catalan. I do know some very basic Japanese (which I'm studying), but I wouldn't say I'm able to hold a conversation yet. However, most of Latinamericans learn English as a second language almost as mandatory part of our education, so maybe I'll be able to communicate with him that way. I'll try to reach to him. Thanks for your videos ans guidance!

[@kiwiyamabushi]

@@1207rorupar yeah! His English isn’t the best, so I thought you could communicate in a mixture of Spanish and Portuguese, I realise this may be assuming much, but during training that’s how my friend communicated with a Dutch dude who spoke Spanish :)

[@jsensei3421]

Really cool video! I live in Gunma prefecture and really wanna visit Yamagata and all the temples and shrines but because of covid I haven't been able to travel.. I hope to go there soon! Also, may I ask what song you used starting at 9:25 ? I really like it! Thanks for the video!

[@kiwiyamabushi]

Hey thanks! I really appreciate it :) yes, I really want to visit more temples and shrines. I think I’ll start with the mountains around me, but Gunma has some very beautiful places too, like Minakami! The song I got from Epidemic Sound I believe. Let me find the name for you :)

[@jsensei3421]

@@kiwiyamabushi Minakami is such a nice place, especially for onsen! Come on down one day when it's safer haha. And yes please let me know if you find the song name! :)

[@kiwiyamabushi]

@@jsensei3421 Yeah, I'd love to! It must be pretty white there at the moment, it is here at least!

[@jsensei3421]

@@kiwiyamabushi In other parts it is but not where I live unfortunately haha

[@kiwiyamabushi]

Right! Are you more closer to Tokyo then? I heard there was a bit of snow there recently :)

[@OliveirosDiasJr]

🙏

[@kiwiyamabushi]

🙏 to you too! Thanks for your support!

[@IntergalacticPirateRadio]

As a Christian, I truly regret that Japan's first experience with our religion was through the Jesuits and Catholic missionaries who had an unfortunate habit of persecuting non-Christian Japanese to the point where they went as far as destroying Shinto Shrines. Which to the native Japanese at the time must have been an intolerable insult to their cultural heritage, and identity. The grievous persecution of Christians in Japan while horrible was not entirely unwarranted.

[@IntergalacticPirateRadio]

If those Missionaries had bothered to learn of their customs, and the fluidity of their spiritual beliefs. Perhaps then a common ground would have been found that could have averted so much unnecessary bloodshed.

[@kiwiyamabushi]

My yamabushi master, Master Hoshino, always talks about how Japan is such a vague country. How there is always a grey zone or a buffer between things, like the area between the shrine gates, and the object of worship itself. This means as a country, Japan has an easier time of absorbing other cultures and traditions, and Buddhism is but one example. Things don't have to be as clear-cut as they are in the west (i.e. bipartisanship), for example.

[@murrik]

Could you please give an example of visualization that are done for one of the kuji?

[@kiwiyamabushi]

Hi, I'm sorry I'm not sure what you mean, what is a kuji?

[@murrik]

Tim Bunting when shugenja enter the mountains they are doing the nine seal/mudra protection ritual right? Rin pyo to sha..,

[@kiwiyamabushi]

@@murrik Ah yes, actually, I don't know any of these, our master doesn't teach that kind of stuff. I'm really sorry about that :(

[@murrik]

Ah, my i know who youre teacher is?

[@kiwiyamabushi]

@@murrik Master Hoshino from Daishobo. We're more about the practical side of Shugendo, i.e. getting into and learning from nature, but we still retain the ritualistic aspects, just not as seriously.

[@2047Taka]

👍⛩🙏🇯🇵

[@kiwiyamabushi]

ありがとうございました😊