From Native To Continental: Religious Landscape In Early Medieval Japan

Abstract

Japan is perceived to be a “unique” country not only by the general public but also by academics. Therefore, for a long time the idea that every aspect of Japanese history was unique setting it apart from its continental neighbors prevailed. History of religion and intellectual currents in Japan are no exception to this point of view. While Shinto is considered to be native to Japan, Buddhism, Confucianism and other intellectual and religious currents entered Japan via Korea and Japan, and they influenced shinto as much as they influenced the intellectual history of Japan. In this respect, while Japan retains some of the characteristics unique to it just as any country has its unique characteristics, Japan was closely linked to its continental neighbors intellectually and religiously despite its geographic isolation as an island. In this regard, putting the early medieval Japanese intellectual history within a geographically broader East Asian perspective in connection with Korea and China is essential to better comprehend both the similar and unique developments of Japanese intellectual history vis-à-vis its continental neighbors.