Practically Religious: Worldly Benefits and the Common Religion of Japan PDF
Preview Practically Religious: Worldly Benefits and the Common Religion of Japan
Practically Religious Practically Religious Worldly Benefits and the Common Religion of Japan Ian Reader and George J. Tanabe, Jr. University of Hawai‘i Press Honolulu Publication of this book has been assisted by a grant from the Kamigata Kenkyu¯kai at the University of Hawai‘i. © 1998 University of Hawai‘i Press All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America 98 99 00 01 02 03 5 4 3 2 1 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Reader, Ian, 1949– Practically religious : worldly benefits and the common religion of Japan / Ian Reader and George J. Tanabe, Jr. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-8248-2065-7 (cloth). — ISBN 0-8248-2090-8 (paper) 1. Japan—Religious life and customs. 2. Reward (Theology) 3. Reward (Buddhism) 4. Reward (Shinto) 5. Goriyaku. I. Tanabe, George Joji. II. Title. BL2211.R44R43 1998 200(cid:1).952—dc21 98-4192 CIP University of Hawai‘i Press books are printed on acid-free paper and meet the guidelines for permanence and durability of the Council on Library Resources Book design by Kenneth Miyamoto In memory of Marie Reader 1910–1997 Ethel Yukie Tanabe 1915–1996 Contents Acknowledgments xi Introduction 1 Buddhism and This-Worldly Benefits 8 Shinto and Practical Benefits 13 Genze riyakuin Japanese Religion 14 A Common Religion 23 Overview of the Book 32 1 Benefits in the Religious System: Settings and Dynamics 37 Comprehensive Responses: Types and Extent of Practical Benefits 45 The Social Geography of Benefits: Benefits and Religious Identity 50 Changing Times and New Benefits 53 Practical Benefits, Religious Institutions, and Ritual Processes: The Case of Kawasaki Daishi 60 Individual Wishes and Social Requests 68 2 Scripture and Benefits 71 This-Worldly Promises: The Lotus Sutra 73 Benefits in Early Buddhist Teachings 77 Benefits as Divine Blessings: The Flower Garland Sutra 80 Benefits as Windfall: Fujii Masao 82 Benefits as Objectives: Iijima Yoshiharu 84 Benefits as Concession and Mystery: O¯cho¯ Enichi 87 Benefits as Folk Syncretism: Tsuruoka Shizuo 89 vii viii Contents Postmodern Jo¯do Shin Catholicism: Sasaki Sho¯ten 94 Enculturation through Coexistence: Nara Yasuaki 97 Sutra Buddhism as Folk Religion 100 Kubosa:Bourgeois Benefits in Shinto 102 3 Buying Out Chance: Morality, Belief, and Prayer 107 Good Luck (ko¯un) and Moral Luck (kaiun) 108 Material Spirituality 115 Social Welfare and Repayment of Gratitude 120 Materialism, Selfishness, and Prayers for All 123 Belief and Disbelief in Magic 126 Prayer and Purchase 136 4 The Providers of Benefits: Gods, Saints, and Wizards 140 Personalization and Purchase 143 Ninomiya’s Pill and the Gathering of Gods and Buddhas 146 Intensifying Assimilation: The Impact of Meiji Disestablishment 155 The Seven Gods of Good Fortune 156 The Place of the Gods 163 The Benefits of a Saint: Ko¯bo¯ Daishi 166 Wizards 170 The Diverse Gathering 176 5 The Dynamics of Practice 178 The Open Display of Desire 181 Purchase, Practice, and the Price of Benefits 182 The Importance of Plurality 188 Rituals, Intimacy, and the Role of Priests 190 Actions, Amulets, and Obligations 192 Return and Renewal: The Cycle of Purchase and Gratitude 195 Leaving Messages: The Use of Votive Tablets 197 Pilgrimage and the Pursuit of Benefits 199 Social Organizations and the Pursuit of Benefits: Ko¯ and Kaisha 201 The Dynamics of Practice 204 6 Selling Benefits: The Marketing of Efficacy and Truth 206 Creating a Religious Department Store 206 Marketing Reputation through Stories 209 Contents ix Advertising through Events, Festivals, and Rituals 212 Contemporary Media 215 New Technologies: Selling Benefits by Fax and Internet 217 Material Goods: Wholesale Suppliers 222 Competition and Survival 225 Marketing Truth 229 Stagnation and Vibrancy 231 7 Guidebooks to Practical Benefits 234 A Nineteenth-Century Example 235 Contemporary Guidebooks 239 Guidebooks and the Reporting of Miracles 242 Unusual Benefits: The Example of the Nippon zenkoku goriyaku gaido 245 Common Religion in a Modern City: Tokyo goriyaku sanpo 247 The Religious Landscape 253 8 Conclusions 256 Notes 263 Bibliography 285 Index 299
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