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Glossary of terms related to Japanese religion
- Amaterasu Ōmikami
Supreme Shintō goddess of the Sun, and legendary ancestor of the Japanese Imperial family.
- Dashi
Festival car used in "matsuri".
- Happi
Traditional garment worn in "matsuri".
- Inari
Shintō goddess of rice and fertility, usually associated with foxes.
- Jōdō-shinshu
"True Pure Land". Second most popular sect of Japanese Buddhism with about 12 million followers.
- Jōdō-shū
"Pure Land". Most popular sect of Japanese Buddhism with about 30 million followers.
- Jushoku
Title given to resident minister of Buddhist temples.
- Kami
Kami is the Japanese word referring to gods, deities or higher powers.
- Kannon
Buddhist/Hindu goddess of Mercy (Sanskrit : Avalokiteshvara).
- Kannushi
Head priest of a Shintō shrine.
- Matsuri
Japanese festival (associated with a Shinto shrine)
- Mikoshi
Portable shrine used in festivals.
- O-bōsan
Buddhist priest or monk.
- Obaku
Branch of Zen Buddhism.
- Oni
Demon, ogre or evil spirit. Oni often feature in children stories, such as Momotaro.
- Rinzai
Branch of Zen Buddhism.
- Sadō
Tea ceremony, which originated in Zen Buddhism
- Sanshu no Jingi
The three Imperial Regalia in State Shintoism : the mirror, the sword and the jewels.
- Satori
Buddhist enlightenment
- Shichigosan
Traditional Japanese custom to bring children aged 7, 5 and 3 to the Shintō shrine on 15 November. Usually girls of 7 and 3 and boys of 5 and 3 are taken by their parents to pray for their good health and future blessings. The children normally wear colouful kimono for the occasion.
- Shingon
Japanese Esoteric Buddhism. The third most popular sect of Buddhism in Japan, with about 10 million followers.
- Shintoism
"Way of the Gods". Japan's indigenous religion. It is a form of animism and comprises most of the Japanese traditions.
- Sōtō
Branch of Zen Buddhism.
- Tendai
Lotus Sutra sect of Buddhism from China.
- Torii
Entrance gate to a Shintō shrine.
- Yamabushi
Ascetic mountain priest, practitioners of the Shugendō sect of Buddhism.
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