| NOTA |
(★)(trans. by H. Byron Earhart)(The coexistence of diverse religious traditions is a well-known feature of Japanese history ; what is less well known is that for a large part of its modern century --from the Meiji Restoration to defeat in World War II-- Japan experienced a period of religious repression. During the feudal Tokugawa period, Buddhism was a virtual extension of the government, but the Meiji government unseated it in favor of Shinto, which was established as the state religion. State Shinto was the religious expression of the emperor system, a political manipulation of religion to realize an ideal world as conceived by the government. With the government advocating its own religious character, religions that opposed state policies or the emperor system in any way were inevitably viewed as heretical. Religious founders and leaders were imprisoned and headquarters were destroyed. The majority of religions, however, continued to exist within the limited freedom allowed. These served the interests of the state by instilling patriotic and militaristic values in their followers and cooperating in the imperialistic policies of the government. Although also subject to control, the new independent religions at this time attracted masses of followers with promises of this-worldly benefits. The postwar Constitution ushered in a new era in Japan´s religious history, and today there are some 230,000 religious organizations that enjoy an unprecedented freedom to preach and propagate. This book provides a unique approach to religions in the context of the modern century. It is the first book in English that systematically and critically analyzes religion in its relationship to prevailing political, economic, and social conditions. The confrontation between the religion of the government and the religions of the people --the struggle for freedom of religion-- is the main concern of this study. As a strong proponent of religious freedom, the author is critical of state manipulation of religion and urges his compatriots to preserve a freedom obtained only after a long and bitter struggle. Shigeyoshi Murakami is lecturer at Keio University and has written widely on Japanese religion and on contemporary religious problems. H. Byron Earhart is professor at Western Michigan University.) |
BASE de DATOS, Biblioteca del Centro Cultural de la Embajada de Japon
印刷用ページ