REligion of Japan

 

Japanese religion began with the worship of nature spirits. it was beleived that the spirtis of ancestors were present in the air. The Japanese religion required the process of ritual cleaning. It also put a great stress on the imprtance and beauty of nature. The is evolved into a state religion called Shinto. Nearly all Japanese participated in Shintoism in one form or another. Buddhism was introduced into Japan in the 6th century. It spread widely. Two different sects developed the Pure Land sect that taught that enlighttenment could lead to release. The other sect -Zen- called for ardous self-discipline to become enlightened.