Practically Religious: Worldly Benefits and the Common Religion of Japan

317 Pages·1998·2.807 MB·English

by  Ian Reader, George J. Tanabe, Jr.

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