| Papers [1-15] of 100 :: [Page 1 of 7] | | Go to page : 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 —> | Search results on "BUDDHISM JAPAN": |
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Buddhism in Japan, 1993.
Examining Buddhism in Japan by looking at its origins, tenets, sects and its effects on arts & culture through the centuries.
2,700 words (approx. 10.8 pages), 11 sources, $ 95.95
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From the Paper
" Buddhism in Japan
It has been said that religions are not static. They are the result of shifting social, economic, and political changes. Sometimes religions themselves cause cultural change. They may challenge outdated ideologies and during processes of conflict become altered to more suit the needs of the people they serve. During stable historical periods, changes in religions may appear imperceptible, but during times of political or social upheaval, religious changes are more obvious, and, in fact, may outdistance changes in other areas of life.. The relationship between religion and culture is quite close, and it seems impossible to understand one without seriously studying the other. It is the purpose of this paper to discuss the early origins of Buddhism, particularly in the pre-Japan and Japan era, the affects of.."
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Buddhism in China and Japan., 2002.
A comparison of the effects of the Buddhist religion in Japan and China.
650 words (approx. 2.6 pages), 3 sources, $ 26.95
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Abstract
This paper will argue that the effect of the introduction of Buddhism in China and Japan was completely different, given the distinct political and cultural contexts of the two countries.
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Shinto and Buddhism, 2006.
An analysis of the significance of Shinto and Buddhism in Japanese history and culture prior to 1850 AD.
2,864 words (approx. 11.5 pages), 7 sources, APA, $ 85.95
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Abstract
This paper examines the early history of Shinto and its basic philosophy, the advent of Buddhism in Japan and its consolidation, and the significance of the two religions in Japanese history and culture. It focuses on how Shinto and Buddhism have effected history, culture, society and even politics in Japanese society.
Table of Contents:
Shinto
Origin
The Shinto Philosophy
Early Shinto History
Buddhism in Japan
Origin and Early Development of Buddhism
Adapting to Local Cultures
Introduction of Buddhism in Japan
Consolidation of Buddhism in Japan
Influence of Buddhism and Shinto on Japanese Culture
Conclusion
From the Paper
"Perhaps the most telling contribution of Buddhism on Japanese society was that it provided an intellectual stimulus to the Japanese people who were forced to think more profoundly about the problems of life. This stimulus also helped to lift Japan's native religion, Shinto, from the level of an animistic cult to a proper religion. For example, it was only in reaction to the sophistication of the Buddhism and its scriptures that the existing Japanese myths and legends were compiled into written record."
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Lady Murasaki's "Court Diary", 2005.
This paper reviews Lady Murasaki's "Court Diary", a lady in waiting in the court of the Japanese court from 1007 to 1010 A.D., which discusses the social and cultural influence of Confucianism and Buddhism on ancient Japan.
1,905 words (approx. 7.6 pages), 0 sources, $ 60.95
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Abstract
This paper explains that Lady Murasaki wrote her "Court Diary during the period in which Bushido was a code and way of life for Samurai men and was influenced by Zen and Confucianism. The author points out that in Lady Murasaki's "Court Diary", it is obvious that Buddhism and Buddhist metaphysics are very much a part of Japanese court life; however, what is not so obvious is that Chinese Confucianism also had become part of 10th century Japan's Imperial court. The paper relates that the notion of impermanence is an extremely salient characteristic throughout the Diary; she writes that all things are ephemeral, reflecting on the aesthetics of the period, which were based on the beauty of impermanence.
From the Paper
"Confucianism influenced the Chinese attitude toward life, set the patterns of living and standards of social value, and provided the background for Chinese political theories and institutions. It eventually spread from China to Korea, from Korea to Japan where it was first brought to around the fifth century. Confucius had a great impact on the Japanese civilization. His teachings relating to ethics, honor, social responsibility, familial obligations, ancestor worship, and observation of rites and historical precedence provide the glue that gives the Japanese civilization continuity and durability."
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Cha'an Buddhism, 2005.
This paper discusses the development, practice, and ideas of Cha'an Buddhism, also known as Zen Buddhism.
3,375 words (approx. 13.5 pages), 10 sources, $ 133.95
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Abstract
This paper explains that Cha'an Buddhism, also known as Zen Buddhism, emerged in China in the sixth century after Buddhism had been brought to China from India. The author points out that Zen Buddhism later was transferred to Japan and eventually reached America and other parts of the world. The paper relates that Cha'an Buddhism is only one of several major schools of Buddhist thought.
From the Paper
"One of the prevailing schools of Buddhist thought in China has been known as Cha'an Buddhism, or Chan Buddhism, and is known in America as Zen Buddhism. While Zen Buddhism was adapted from the Chinese, it also became common in Japan. Zen means the discipline of enlightenment. Much remains uncertain about the early history of Chan Buddhism, but the general development of the school is understood, as is the way it spread through China and into other regions. A School of Buddhism Chan Buddhism is the religion of jiyu, or "self-reliance," and jizai, or "self-being" (Suzuki 6). "
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Cultural Comparison of Korean and Japanese Buddhism, 2002.
This paper analyzes the two seemingly closely related schools of Buddhism which exist in the very different cultures of Korea and Japan.
1,548 words (approx. 6.2 pages), 16 sources, MLA, $ 50.95
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Abstract
The writer argues that there are very distinct similarities and differences in the histories, philosophies and beliefs that shape Korean and Japanese Buddhism, both in their homelands and in the United States. The paper compares and contrasts issues such as dress, temples, daily schedule of prayers and doctrine. Finally, the writer concludes that both Korean and Japanese Buddhism are part of the collective human experience, and as such each may be viewed historically, culturally and even doctrinally.
From the Paper
"It became clear that Korean Buddhists rely very heavily on the interaction of their ancestors as motivating phenomena. The weight of the burden passed on by every ancestor accumulates, resulting in an increasingly heavy karmic load for each subsequent descendant. In traditional, or Japanese and Chinese, Buddhism, the burden follows the individual (or in a worst case scenario, one of great sin or wrongdoing, follows the immediate family). However, in Korean Buddhism the weight of all things left unresolved follows all of the members of the family until it is settles. This holistic approach is so incredibly thorough that Korean Buddhists alive today are still carrying the unfinished cosmic burden of ancestors from a thousand years ago. (Buswell, 131-3)"
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Japan's Modern Myths, 2007.
This paper discusses Japan as viewed in 'Japan's Modern Myths: Ideology in the Late Meiji Period' by Carol Gluck.
849 words (approx. 3.4 pages), 1 source, MLA, $ 30.95
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Abstract
In this article the writer discusses Professor Carol Gluck's views regarding Japan as portrayed in Chapter 5 and 6 of 'Japan's Modern Myths: Ideology in the Late Meiji Period'. The writer points out that Professor Gluck argues that Japanese society was and is a society founded upon the values of the collective, rather than upon the individual. Further, the writer notes that her view of Japanese civic virtues is extremely broad and suggests that on every level of public and personal morality, the nation is given greater value than the lives of its citizens. The writer then discusses that, in Chapter 6, Gluck paints the period as a constant struggle between the forces of nationalism and collectivism versus the "social fever" for modernity, or Westernization, that is still present and, in Gluck's opinion, was a natural, human impulse in contrast to the expressed will of the state.
From the Paper
"Gluck suggests that the Meiji policies of the late 19th and early 20th century Japanese government leading up to World War II made civil obedience and national sacrifice a religious calling. Gluck's views of the causes of World War II thus take on a very socially deterministic cast. In her view, because the Emperor was divine, everything he did and was done in the name of Japan was seen as right and just. In terms of Japanese religion, although Gluck argues that although it might seem Buddhism had had a strong religious presence in Japanese morality, she believes this should not be over-emphasized, stating that Buddhism was often perceived as a foreign religion by the state In contrast, Gluck stresses the emphasis on the indigenous Japanese religion Shinto as a state religion. She sees Shintoism, as opposed to the imported philosophy of Buddhism, to form the true philosophy of the civil cult of the state. She points out that the Shintoists continued to press their claims for the institutionalization of Shinto as a separate office of state, apart from Buddhists."
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Theravada Buddhism, 2007.
A comparison of Theravada Buddhism with Zen and Mahayana Buddhism.
1,743 words (approx. 7.0 pages), 5 sources, MLA, $ 56.95
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Abstract
This paper reviews the precepts and philosophies put forward by those interpreting Theravada Buddhism and discusses why it has become the popular form of Buddhism practiced by Westerners. It then compares Theravada Buddhism with Zen and Mahayana Buddhism (and Shin Buddhism, a form of Mahayana), discussing how they relate differently to the precepts of Buddhism.
From the Paper
"And in fact, monks in America in Theravadan communities now do shake hands with women, and there is innovation and change on the way, Numrich writes. And in some cases, monks are married and living normal lives, because as Numrich points out on page 151, monasticism "is irrelevant to the practice of Buddhism" in America.
"The fact of normal family life for monks is certainly a good reason for Americans practicing Buddhism to heartily relate to the faith, in particular, given the widespread sexual molestation scandals that have rocked the Roman Catholic Church in America over the past few years. If celibacy appears to create carnal desires that result in little boys being sexually abused by clerics, then certainly a more normal life for monks would seem to be advisable, as Theravada Buddhism takes hold in the West."
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Meditation Techniques in Zen Buddhism, 2002.
Focuses on the techniques used when meditating according to the Eastern religion known as Zen Buddhism.
1,650 words (approx. 6.6 pages), 5 sources, $ 62.95
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Abstract
An attempt to describe the meditation techniques used in Japanese Buddhism is faced with the problem of the diversity of Buddhist systems and practices in Japan. While to many Westerners, Buddhism may seem like a universal Asian religion, in fact there are many differences between different Buddhist sects. To better understand the techniques of meditation in Zen Buddhism, then, it would be wise to focus on one particular Japanese sect. From this point of view, the sect of Japanese Buddhism perhaps most useful to study in this essay would be Zen Buddhism.
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Japan's Nuclear Capabilities, 2006.
This well-researched paper examines not only whether Japan has the capability to create nuclear weapons but whether or not Japan already has these actual weapons.
6,555 words (approx. 26.2 pages), 17 sources, MLA, $ 150.95
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Abstract
This in-depth paper explores the sometimes fragile alliance between Japan and the U.S. and ponders whether or not Japan is capable, from a technical standpoint, of creating nuclear weapons. This paper delves into the possibility that Japan may already have nuclear weapons in its possession. A large number of Japanese citizens and successive governments have favored continuing the alliance with the U. S. which involves enormous reliance on American security and military power to protect Japan from attack. This paper defines article 9, the renunciation of war, of Japan's Peace Constitution. The writer also discusses the economic benefits in developing and maintaining nuclear weapons. This well-researched and informative paper considers some of the means Japan could employ to gain greater military autonomy which includes completing the development and production of advanced weapons such as the FSX fighter. This paper also discusses the various groups and parties that oppose nuclear weapons including the Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs.
From the Paper
"Considering that the huge military-industrial complex of United States is an often-criticized force in the American economy and that maintaining a similarly high level of expenditures on weapons was a critical factor leading to the economic and political failure of the former Soviet Union, many in Japan are understandably content not to have a defense industry of a comparable magnitude. But there are some Japanese willing, and even eager, to duplicate or surpass American state-of-the-art military technology. Those who wish to see Japan more independent of reliance on the American power, who believe Japan's future is dependent on an autonomous defense establishment, favor the concept of Kokusanka or, indigenization of defense production."
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The History of Tantric Buddhism, 2006.
A general history of Buddhism with particular focus on Tantric Buddhism.
3,866 words (approx. 15.5 pages), 6 sources, MLA, $ 105.95
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Abstract
This paper begins with a general discussion of the history of Buddhism in and then goes on to discuss the specific history of Tantric Buddhism. The paper briefly discusses the life of Buddha and how, after his death, several different sects within Buddhism arose, including Tantric Buddhism. The paper explains that Tantric (esoteric) Buddhism arose in the seventh and eighth centuries in India and the Himalayas and still survives today, in the twentieth century, as a living tradition of the Buddhism found in Nepal and Tibet. The paper also discusses early Tantric scriptures, Tantric practices and beliefs and its spread to other countries. In addition, the paper examines Western acceptance of Tantric Buddhism and the modern expression of this ancient religion and philosophy.
From the Paper
"The historical Buddha spoke a language of Sanskrit, the classical language of ancient India, although it is not clear which specific dialect he spoke. Sanskrit was a formal literary language used almost exclusively by the elite of society. There is an extensive record of the Buddha's teaching that survives today; it is written in an ancient Indian dialect known as Pali. This record forms the scriptural basis for one of two forms of contemporary Buddhism, the Theravada; this is practiced in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia."
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Buddhism, 2006.
An examination of the religion of Buddhism.
1,740 words (approx. 7.0 pages), 5 sources, APA, $ 56.95
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Abstract
The paper analyzes how Buddhism is both a religion and a philosophy. The paper discusses how Buddhism, one of the major world religions with 376 million followers worldwide, began in India and spread, via Asia, through the rest of the world. The paper analyzes how Buddhism, the only major religion that is not based on the existence of God, is a shramana, or wandering monk, religion. The paper examines the two branches of Buddhism, Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism, which are differentiated based on their belief in the Pali suttas scriptures.
The paper includes an interview with a practicing Buddhist.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Basic Tenets
Buddhist Temple
Interview
Compare and Contrast
Conclusion
From the Paper
"The beginning and the end of the Eightfold Path is the right view, because it starts and ends with an understanding of the Four Noble Truths. (Knierim, 2005). The right view consists of an awareness of suffering and of the fact that suffering can end. The second path on the Eightfold path is right intention, which involves an individual commitment to be free from ill will. (Wikipedia, 2005, "Noble Eightfold Path"). The third component is right speech, which means that one should only speak nurturing, worthy words and should abstain from false speech, slander, idle chatter, and harmful words. The fourth component is right action, which means that one must abstain from doing intentional harm, especially to sentient beings. (Wikipedia, 2005, "Noble Eightfold Path"). The fifth component is right livelihood, which means that one should earn one's living through means that are peaceful, non-harmful, and legal."
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Zen Buddhism, 2007.
This paper discuses Zen Buddhism as a form of Mahayana Buddhism, which is a tradition that has had much appeal to some westerners in the last generations.
3,015 words (approx. 12.1 pages), 8 sources, APA, $ 88.95
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Abstract
This paper relates the history of Zen Buddhism, explaining that it originated in China and later spread throughout much of Vietnam, Korea and Indo-China. The author points out that Zen Buddhism demands a great deal of the follower but its gift is a pure simplicity that brings the transformation of the person and all awareness. The paper relates that many North Americans, including Heidegger, Erich Fromm, and Aldous Huxley, value the 'in the moment' focus of Zen Buddhism as a solution to fast-paced societies that cause many people to feel overwhelmed by stress. The paper relates that the aesthetics of Zen appeal to Westerners as seen in sand or stone 'Japanese' gardens that reflect the influence of Zen Buddhism.
Table of Content:
Introduction
The Buddha's Emissaries
Zen's Appeal and its Spread
Zen's Appeal to Non-Asian Persons
Concluding Discussion
From the Paper
"Those leaving India for East Asia in the 6th century AD believed they carried a simple but very powerful message. The smile of the Buddha was a symbol that had spread through India by those known as the 28 Patriarchs, the symbol brought to China by Bodhidharma and later taken on to Japan. Part of the appeal of Zen Buddhism perhaps was its accessibility in societies where only the elite, indeed, only the philosophical or priestly classes, were literate. Zen's emphasis on personal consciousness, as aided by a learned teacher, appealed to people who were given simple - but extremely difficult meditative exercises to master."
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Post-World War II Japan, 2004.
Discussion of Japan's monumental economic and technological success following WWII.
3,951 words (approx. 15.8 pages), 11 sources, MLA, $ 107.95
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Abstract
In an effort to determine the causes of Japan's economic and technological success following WWII, this paper examines Japan's history beginning with the signing of the peace treaty bringing an end to World War II and the years that followed. The paper reviews the peace treaty and what was demanded of Japan to bring an end to the war after the bombing of Nagasaki and examines the role of the U.S. in ruling post-war Japan. Furthermore, the paper assesses Japan's aggressive pursuit of its post-war reconstruction, including what industries were pursued and why, and then analyzes those factors that made it possible for Japan to recover in such a short time following the devastating war, becoming a major, global industrial power. A summary of the research is provided in the conclusion.
Introduction
Review and Analysis
Industrialization in Post-War Japan
Cultural and Demographic Factors
Conclusion
From the Paper
"The key points of these policies were simple and straightforward, and included the demilitarization of Japan (so that it would not again become a danger to peace); democratization, meaning that, while no particular form of government would be forced upon the Japanese, efforts would be made to develop a political system under which individual rights would be guaranteed and protected; and the establishment of an economy that could adequately support a peaceful and democratic Japan. Further, MacArthur shared the vision of a demilitarized and democratic Japan and he was well suited to the challenge. MacArthur was an outstanding administrator and possessed the leadership and charisma that appealed to the defeated Japanese. MacArthur did not tolerate any domestic nor foreign interference, and aggressively went about creating a new Japan. To this end, he encouraged an environment in which new forces could and did rise, and, where his reforms corresponded to trends that had already established in Japanese society, they served to play a critical part in Japan's recovery as a free and independent country (Winchester 1989)."
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Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism, 2005.
Examines the origins and compares these two branches of Buddhism.
1,080 words (approx. 4.3 pages), 4 sources, MLA, $ 37.95
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Abstract
Buddhism is a major world religion which was founded in northeastern India and is based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama - more commonly known as the Buddha or the Enlightened One. The worldwide followers of Buddhism number between 150 to 300 million, most of who belong to the two major branches of Buddhism--the Theravada (the "Way of the Elders") and Mahayana (the "Great Vehicle") Buddhism. This paper briefly traces the origins of the two branches of Buddhism, compares and contrasts the major theological differences between Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism and explains how these differences are manifested in practice.
Paper Outline
Abstract
Theravada Buddhism: Origins and Basic Doctrine
Mahayana Buddhism: Origins and Basic Doctrine
The Main Differences: Theory and Practice
Conclusion
Works Cited
From the Paper
"Theravada monks have also been criticized by followers of Mahayana for being selfishly concerned only with their own salvation and for indifference to the lay community. According to the Mahayana doctrine, the bodhisattvas, out of a sense of compassion, delay their final passage to the transcendent state of nirvana in order to labor on behalf of others and help them in attaining salvation. They are, therefore, considered superior to the Theravadin arhat, who is mainly concerned with his own salvation but cannot help others in achieving salvation."
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