K. M. University, India Christianity in the Land of Santhals: a study of Resistance and Acceptance in Historical Perspective(03U)

Kasai, Masahiro

Fukuoka Iken Technical College, Japan

The Place of Buddhism in Japanese Culture – The Foundation of the Usa Shrine-Temple Complex (Usa Jingu-Ji) in Kyushu(17F)

The basic patterns of social organization in ancient Japan and the behaviorial patterns of its inhabitants had been deeply influenced by Buddhism, arriving in Japan from the Korean peninsula. These cultural influences extend until today in overt or hidden forms. The fact that Buddhism became part of the fundament of Japanese culture has shaped it differently from the cultures of China or Korea. I consider my inquiry into the formation of the Usa shrine-temple complex to be an important contribution to gaining an understanding of the formation of Japanese culture. Before the Tenpyo era, the Usa region had been roughly divided into three principal clans, the Usa, the Hata and the Oga. Before the introduction, they used to fight each other, and the territory was divided up into the domains of the various clan deities. Through the introduction of Buddhism from Korea, however, a new style of Shinto emerged in the founding of the Usa shrine-temple complex and enabled the spiritual and political unification of the Usa region. In my view, an academic inquiry into this phenomenon helps us to understand the formation of the Japanese kingdom.

Organized panel
Kasai, Masahiro

Fukuoka Iken Technical College, Japan

Historical Studies in Japanese Buddhism(17F)

*chairperson

Organized panel
Kashio, Naoki

Keio University, Japan

Religion, Agency, and Order: Theoretical Issues and Historical Cases(01K)

*respondent

Organized panel, English
Kashio, Naoki

Keio University, Japan

Life and Death of the Youth in Contemporary Japan: a the Case of the Manga "Vagabond" and its Readers(02H)

The aim of this presentation is to elucidate the visions of life and death of the contemporary Japanese youth reading one of the most famous and popular Japanese mangas, "Vagabond" made by the author of "Slam Dunk," Tahiko Inoue, through the analysis of its contents and their temoignages. This manga, "Vagabond," treats the life history, that is to say, the history of growth of the most famous samurai in early modern Japan, Musashi Miyamoto. The young Japanese readers of "Vagabond" are so sympathetic to Musashi's life style that they try to construct the notion of life and death with their own realities. In due course of this analysis, we will be able to grasp the religious dimension in contemporary Japanese popular culture, its religiosity and spirituality in present Japanese culture, and prospect them in the future.

Organized panel, English
Kashio, Naoki

Keio University, Japan

Spirituality Studies as Our Common Theme: a Case of Contemporary Japan(04B)

The aim of this presentation is to examine the notion "Spirituality" as a contemporary key-word, used in various fields: religion, medicine, care, clinical psychology, bioethics, food and eating, education, death-education, management and administration, welfare, self-help group, and other non-profit organization, etc., in Japan, for discovering and sharing the significances and tasks of Spirituality Studies, to consider the orientation of our religious studies in the 21st century. I will make arrangement of the various notions of "Spirituality" to elucidate the specificities of this concept, the sources of the differences and similarities of the various notions, and some important points of spirituality studies. Finally, I will present what the present and future object of spirituality studies as contemporary religious studies is.

Symposium, English
Kashio, Naoki

Keio University, Japan

Religion, Ethnicity, and Culture in Korea and Japan (5) Representations of Life and Death in Everyday Life(11D)

The aim of this session is to elucidate the common and specific points of the Korean-Japanese notions of life and death in everyday life, through the comparative analysis of its various representations like popular culture--mangas and films--, death rituals, and narratives of both people. On the one hand, there are two Japanese presentations, People and Their Memories in Korean Comic by SAJIMA Akiko, and Life, Death and Spirituality for Japanese people by ITO Masayuki. On the other, there are three Korean presentations, A Cross-Cultural Study on the Viewpoint of Life and Death in Popular Culture of Korea and Japan: with Special References to the Films on Funeral Rites by SHIN Kwang-Cheol, A Study of the Religious Dimension of Death Studies in Korea by KIM Chae-Young, and A Cult of the Dead in the Korean Religious Culture by PARK Seung-Gil.

Symposium, * Session Abstract, English
Kasuga, Hideyuki

Aichi Prefectural University, Japan

Jung and Yuishiki Buddhism in the Later Thought of Shusaku Endo(05W)

A special issue of the literary magazine Mita Bungaku devoted to the work of the late Catholic novelist Shusaku Endo contains the author's "Working Notes," fifty-six previously unpublished pages of the diary he kept while writing his puzzling novel Scandal. These notes reveal Endo's struggle to overcome the problem of dualism in Christianity as he moved closer to the all-embracing vision of his last novel, Deep River. The key to the transition in Endo's thought lies in his exploration of the unconscious; in this presentation I will trace the evolution of Endo's thought from Freudian analysis to Jungian and emphasize the explosion of interest that occurred when he discovered the Unconscious-like Arayashiki of Yuishiki Buddhism.

Organized panel, English
Katayanagi, Eiichi

Kyouto University, Japan

Multicultural Situations and the Formation of Christianity in the Ancient Mediterranean World(13N)

The ancient Mediterranean World, which had an own political and cultural unity, was the place where Christianity was destined to form itself. The Roman Empire and the penetration of the Hellenism offered the united common place to this world. This united structure of the ancient Mediterranean World stimulated the multi-cultural influx and risked even the foundation of this common world. What have these multi-cultural situations of the ancient Mediterranean world contributed to the formation of the rising Christianity? We will take up several concrete cases, for example, the confrontation of the Christian monotheism with the polytheism of the ancient Mediterranean World, the role of the Wise in the formation of early Christian thought, the problem of war for the church, etc. Through these examples, we can view varieties of the formation of the early Christianity.

Symposium, * Session Abstract, English
Katayanagi, Eiichi

Kyouto University, Japan

The Plutonian One and the God of Augustine as Trinity(14N)

When Christianity entered in the midst of ancient Mediterranean world, it found Platonism as the most vigorous rival and at the same time, as a spiritual comrade. The confrontation and the reception with it had various forms. Augustine is one of the most remarkable cases. In the concept of the Plutonian One, Augustine found the same divine Being with the Bible. But he did not accept the concept of 'Beyond the Being,' which most radically characterizes the One of Plato. Instead of this, Augustine called his God 'Being itself,' which belonged to the second dimension in the plutonian order. Does it mean that there is an inconsistency in Augustine's thought? Or can he be defended, for example, from the Trinitarian standpoint? That is the question which I will discuss in this symposium.

Symposium, English
Kather, Regine

Universität Freiburg, Germany

Gott ist jenseits der Gegensaetze? (Cusanus) Einheit und Vielheit vor dem Hintergrund der negativen Theologie(05N)

The lecture will present the method of negative theology which since Plotinus became the basis for the reflection of finite and infinite being in western culture and which was articulated paradigmatically by Nicolaus of Cusa in his statement 'God is supra opposita'. It is characteristic for the relation of finite and infinite being that God transcends all human concepts. Nevertheless it is possible to speak about him because even this 'object' corresponds, in the sense of Kant, a certain form of experience, too. It is based on the relation between time and eternity, space and the transcending of space, matter and spirit and, at least, on the perspective of the first person. Therefore it is clearly to distinguish from the form of experience which is the basis for science and our daily life. Due to the relation of finite and infinite being a variety of religious experience is founded in its own structure.

Organized panel
Kato, Chiken

Tokyo Polytechnic University, Japan

On Coexistence of Religions(07K)

In these days，troubles on religions，especially concerning monotheism，break out frequently around the world． In this paper I consider a way to realize peaceful coexistence of religions from the following aspects． 1) I seek for the reason why monotheism is apt to cause conflicts． 2) In Japan，there have not been serious conflicts between Shintoism and Buddhism， so they have lived together flexibly．I will discuss that one of this reasons is that both of them have admitted their similarities rather than differences． 3) Monotheism tends to insist purity by emphasizing differences．Thus I point out the importance of finding similarities between religions and cultivating mutual understanding． 4) Finally I discuss that people should nurse generous mind toward religious pluralism by allowing similarities among different religions including monotheism through religious education，especially viewpoints of science of religion，from the stage of primary school education．

Organized panel, Japanese
Kato, Chiken

Tokyo Polytechnic University, Japan

Religious Pluralism in Japan(07K)

*chairperson

Organized panel
Kato, Shinzo

Keio University School of Medicine, Japan

Spirituality in Practical Medicine(13J)

In addition to physical, mental, and social dimensions, spirituality has been discussed to supplement the definition of health as given by the World Health Organization (WHO). It is hoped that holistic medicine will cover all of these dimensions. Modern medicine has been developed through reductionism, and biomedical research has focused on research on the body, organs, cells, molecules, and genes. Recently, in practical medicine, spirituality has received much attention in the field of palliative care, which cares for spiritual pain, and the activity of self-help groups for alcoholism which aims at spiritual growth. We have to develop these forms of medicine as a new trend for the medical field of the 21st century.

Organized panel, English
Katoh, Kiriko

Kyoto University, Japan

Mysticism as Directed toward Original Knowledge: The Case of Eckhart's Theory of the Intellect(09E)

It is often thought that mysticism and philosophy are opposed to one another. But the essential convergences between the two should not be overlooked. Mysticism is characterized in part by a returning to the grounds of the self and an original knowledge that precedes normal acts of cognition. Philosophy also intends to reflectively elucidate the meaning of knowledge and the grounds of cognition. In this paper, I will show that mysticism and philosophy do not always conflict with each other by delving into mysticism from the angle of knowledge through Eckhart's theory of the intellect. According to Eckhart, God is present in the ground of the soul, and the soul finds its way back to this ground through intellectual cognition. I will examine what Eckhart means by "knowing," in relation to his soteriology. In this manner I will attempt to clarify how his mysticism conjoined original knowledge with soteriology.

Organized panel, Japanese
Katoh, Shinkoh

Bukkyo University, Japan

Mt.Ikoma as the Pure Land(16I)

The Ikoma mountain chain is located along the western border of Nara prefecture, 35km north to south and 10kmeast to west, and divides the Yamato plains and Kawachi plains. A comparatively gentle mountain range, it includes Mt. Ikoma (642m) at the north and Mt. Shigi(437m) at the end, in the south. Ikoma The mountains are dotted with many shrines and temples and historical spots. Ikoma keeps its position as a religious sacred ground at present and shows an original layer of the Japanese religion . The visualization of the sun written in The Sutra of Mediation on the [Buddha of] Infinite Life is "the training to observe the state for the sun setting in the west sky and to think of paradise being in the west" (Iwanami Buddhism Dictionary). Nara's people spent much time seeing the state of the sun going down to Ikoma every day. The priests who study in the Sanron or Kegon School must have had even more deep emotion to the setting sun in the evening. The teaching of the Pure Land was recognized in Sanron, Hossoh, Kegon, and Ritsu schools of Six Sects in the Nara. The priest Chinkai (1091-1152) who learned Sanron Buddhism in Gangohzi temple mentioned, "You could take the proper way of the peaceful death if you get out of the west gate of Tennohji Temple, go into the east gate of the paradise world and proceed straight "(Bodai-shin-shu).

Organized panel
Katsumata, Etsuko

Doshisha University, Japan

Others' in Rabbinic Judaism(03G)

In the formation of authority, the "other" plays an important role. Following the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 AD, Judaism was reorganized. Palestine at that time was the very place in which various "others" met each other: Hellenism, Christianity, Mysticism, Gnosis, Samarians, etc. Materials from Rabbinic literature and excavated evidence tell us that rabbis were constantly confronted with "others." How did rabbis, who would be the new authority in the age without the Temple, understand these "others"? The purpose of my paper is to clarify various aspects of the relationship between rabbis and the "others" in the formation of the new authority in Judaism.

Organized panel, English
Katsumata, Naoya

Kyoto University, Japan

The Reception and Transformation of Greek Learning in Medieval Judaism(15N)

Scientific materials, such as astronomy and astrology, were handed down from antiquity and absorbed into medieval Judaism, especially in Hebrew liturgical poetry (piyyut). In the early Palestinian piyyut composed under the influence of the Byzantine-Greek civilization, the zodiacal motif was connected closely with the daily life of the Jewish people. The motif was also used in popular Aramaic poems, and also appeared frequently on mosaic floors of the synagogue. In the later Palestinian and Babylonian piyyut composed under the influence of the Islamic civilization, the zodiacal motif was no more treated as what was deeply based on the daily life of the Jewish people. Once philosophy and science of the ancient Greek civilization were introduced into Jewish intellectuals by way of Islam, Hebrew poets, who were often philosophers and scientists at the same time, started to deal with the zodiacal motif as a scientific material in their piyyut.

Organized panel, English
Katsumoto, Karen

Eizan Gakuin, Japan

Mahayanic Elements in Pali Buddhism(05M)

It is said that Pali Buddhism is Hinayana and is fundamentally different from Mahayana. However, in the Pali literature we can find some ideas which are very close to those of Mahayana; for example, Bodhisattva's vows and practices, Buddha's infinite light, or simultaneous existence of plural Buddhas in each direction. These ideas appear in the later Pali texts such as the Apadana, the Buddhavamsa, and the Cariyapitaka, which are included in the group of Khuddaka-nikaya. When comparing these texts and the commentaries to them, we can find interesting phenomena: One case is that the Mahayanic elements which are found in the above-mentioned texts are missing in the later commentaries to them. The other case is that some Mahayanic ideas which are missing in these texts appear in some later commentaries. These phenomena are important when we consider the relation between Pali or Sectarian Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism.

Organized panel, English
Katsura, Syoryu

Ryukoku University, Japan

Formation of the Buddhist Theory of Meaning: An Interaction between Dignāga, Bhāviveka, and Dharmakīrti(13M)

*respondent

Organized panel
Katsurajima, Nobuhiro

Ritsumeikan University, Japan

Curing and Popular Japanese Religion in the Early-Modern Period(08D)

In this work, I show that popular Japanese religion, such as Kurozumikyo, Tenrikyo, and Konkokyo, mainly developed through curing practices. Many followers, who wished to cure illness so they could continue to work, congregated around founders such as Munetada Kurozumi, Miki Nakayama, Bunji Akazawa, all of whom were believed to be able to cure illness. I examine the historical development of this movement in my paper.

Symposium, Japanese
Katsurajima, Nobuhiro

Ritsumeikan University, Japan

Religion, Ethnicity, and Culture in Korea and Japan (2) Modernization and Folk Religions(08D)

The Symposium "Religion, Ethnicity, and Culture in Korea and Japan" is held by the members of the "Korea-Japan Religious Forum," which was founded in 1993. The symposium is composed of five sessions, including this session. We would like to examine how modernization and Westernization has transfigured Japanese and South Korean folk customs, faith, and public religion from the 19th to the 20th century. This session consist of a South Korea side and a Japanese side. Although direct comparison is not performed, we would like to carry out some forms of comparison and examine the basis of Japanese and South Korean folk religions.

Symposium, * Session Abstract, Japanese
Kawa, Masako

University of Tokyo, Japan

Spiritual Distress of Patients with Terminal Cancer in Japanese Palliative Care Units(12J)

In this presentation, through our recent studies, I will consider the spiritual aspects of contemporary Japanese patients who are terminally ill. As a result of a qualitative study conducted to understand the distress associated with the spirituality of terminal cancer patients in Japanese palliative care units, we found the distress in relation to imminent death itself and that this is due to a gap between aspirations and reality. These aspirations were expressed regarding life and death and then interpreted as the "anchors in life." According to the character of the aspirations, distress was divided into three categories: those due to the gap between the present situation and how the individual wanted to live; how the individual wished to die; and the individual's wish to maintain relations with others. Although the study has a limitation to a small number of subjects, it might be true that Japanese patients with terminal cancer express little religious tone.

Organized panel, English
Kawabata, Akira

Osaka University, Japan

Religion and ICT in Japan(16T)

This session reports the results of our research on the Internet and religion. The first presenter, Tamura Takanori, speaks about the Internet trouble consultation in Tenrikyo and Konkokyo. Second presentation from Birgit Staemmler is Kamikakushi on the WWW, which is a traditional Japanese term explaining the sudden disappearance of individuals caused by the abduction by deities. Third, Kurosaki Hiroyuki explains how Jinja Shinto uses and thinks of the Internet. The forth presenter, Fukamizu Kenshin, comments that the Internet is having considerable impact on Jodo Shin-shu, the biggest Buddhist denomination in Japan. The last presentation from Watanabe Mithsuharu speaks about research portfolio and roadmap to utilize the internet from the religious information study. We ask Charles Ess to be the discussant in our panel session and to comment on our research results.

Organized panel, * Session Abstract, English
Kawaguchi, Shigeo

Kyoto University, Japan

L'Éthique de la Mémoire et de l'Oubli -- vers une Philosophie de la Religion au 21ème Siècle(07Q)

Mémoire/oubli, cette dichotomie se retrouve souvent sous les motifs comme « devoir de mémoire », « responsabilité au passé » au sens de la considération pour la mémoire ou de la mise en accusation de l'oubli. Mais que signifie-t-elle la considération pour des mémoires dans la mesure où mémoires lesdites sont celles d'une peine insupportable ou d'un injustifiable? Les mémoires n'exigent pas seulement d'être mémorisées, mais plutôt d'être elles-mêmes sauvées. Cela posé, une conception simplement dualiste de mémoire/oubli nous paraît à cet égard discutable. En face de la profondeur du mal de ce monde, pourtant, de quoi peut l'homme se charger à la limite de sa propre volonté? On traite dans notre symposium cette problématique! Autour de l'éthique de la mémoire et de l'oubli, prenant pour guide la philosophie religieuse en francophonie contemporaine (e.g. Ricoeur, Lévinas, Derrida).

Symposium, * Session Abstract, Japanese
Kawai, Hayao

Kyoto University, Japan

Emperors and Religion in Modern Japan(05P)

*respondent

Organized panel
Kawakami, Tsuneo

Lancaster University, Japan

Work Ethics in the Context of Japanese New Religions(16P)

The work ethic associated with Confucian values has been frequently mentioned as a key to Japanese economic success (Bellah 1957; Dore 1987; Morishima 1982). The traditional work ethic, however, has gradually declined for the past few decades (Hazama 1996), while the Japanese have increasingly found it difficult to share common work ethics. Meanwhile, since the mid-1980s two new religious movements (NRMs) World Mate and Kofuku no Kagaku have attempted to establish strong work ethics as central to their teachings. These two movements are notable among Japanese NRMs in that the founders have published widely on business and management. This paper shows the ideological backgrounds of their work ethics. Drawing upon in-depth interviews with their followers, it also examines how their teachings motivate them to work hard and seek business success. Finally, the paper considers some negative effects of these work ethics for potential converts to these NRMs.

Organized panel, English
Kawamata, Toshinori

Urawagakuin High School, Japan

Family, Church or School - Where Lies the Heir of Japanese Christianity?(04P)

In Japan, three aspects of affairs discuss the problem of the Christianity, which is a minority. First, funereal rite is taken up as a home problem. The idea died and related is as conflicting as Christianity in Japan where the ancestor rituals based on the ie system still continues. It argues between a Christian's grave and a Buddhist altar. Then, it deals with the problem of faith succession in a church. The role which not only a pastor but a pastor wife undertakes is very large at the church in Japan that has only a few affiliation church members. The problem in a pastor home is examined based on a life history interview. Finally, the result of a questionnaire investigation for junior high and high school students of Christian schools is reported. Comparison examination is especially carried out in grade and sex, domestic situation, etc. The problem of "faith succession" is to be considered as the focus of all three aspects of affairs.

Organized panel, * Session Abstract, English