Buddhism

Buddhism is a religion that originated on the Indian subcontinent sometime between 500 and 300 BC. Buddhisms traditions and beliefs are based off of the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, also known as Buddha. Buddhism teaches one to lead a moral life, to be mindful and aware of thoughts and actions and to develop wisdom and understanding. Contrary to popular belief, the Buddha isn't a counterpart to God in the Judeo-Christian belief system. Buddhism does not teach the dependency on any supreme being for enlightenment but rather the Buddha is a guide who points the way to enlightenment.

Basic Beliefs of Buddhism

Buddhism teaches many things but the basics can be summed up by understanding the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, the concept of karma and the Five Precepts of Buddhism.

Four Noble Truths:
1. Life is suffering.
2. Suffering is caused by cravings and want. Desire deprives the soul from happiness and a lifetime of craving creates a powerful energy which causes the soul to be reborn over and over again.
3. Suffering can be overcome and happiness can be attained if one gives up desire by learning to live each day one at a time, by doing this one doesn't dwell on the mistakes of the past and doesn't worry about the future.
4. The Noble eightfold Path leads to the end of suffering and allows one to reach enlightenment and break the cycle or rebirth and suffering.

Noble Eightfold Path:
1. Ethical conduct in our speech.
2. Ethical conduct in our actions.
3. Ethical conduct in our way of living.
4. Concentration on the right efforts.
5. Concentration on the correct state of mind.
6. Concentration on the right meditation.
7. Developing wisdom by understanding the Four Noble Truths.
8. Developing compassion for others.

In short, enlightenment can be reached by accepting and understanding the Four Noble Truths, living in a moral fashion, developing wisdom by focusing the mind through study and meditation, showing compassion for others and being always aware of our actions.

Five Precepts of Buddhism:
This is the basic moral code followed in Buddhism. Similar to the Ten Commandments found in the Judeo-Christian religions.
1. Never take the life of another living being.
2. Never take anything that was not given to you freely.
3. Abstain from sexual misconduct.
4. Speak the truth.
5. Abstain from overindulgence of the senses through any means that causes one to lose awareness of one's actions. For example, through intoxication.

Karma:
The law in Buddhism that says that everything one does has an effect on what happens to oneself. For example, if one does evil unto others, evil will be done unto you. If one does good unto others, good will be done unto you.

Buddhism in Japan

Buddhism was introduced to Japan through the Korean peninsula around 538 AD. The Japanese imperial court embraced Buddhism and officially supported it as an equal to Shinto. The state began funding tera (寺), or temples and all citizens were told to place a butsudan or Buddhist altar in their homes. In this way, Buddhism was peacefully integrated into the Japanese belief system. Over time, Shinto and Buddhist beliefs began to blend and integrate into one another in a process known as syncreticism.

At the beginning of the Heian period (794 to 1185 AD) two Buddhist monks went to China to study mainland Buddhism. The knowledge they brought back with them formed the basis for two sects of Japanese Buddhism. The first sect was known as Tendai, named after Mount Tien Tai in China, and the second was known as Shingon, which was based off of Tibetan Buddhism. Both of these sects favored mountain temples and their influence spread into the Shinto traditions of these areas. Buddhism thrived most during the violent Kamakura period (1185 to 1333 AD), when it became a strong political and military force in Japan. Also during this period the Zen and Jōdo shū sects of Buddhism arrived from China.

Buddhism remained a powerful influence until the time of Oda Nobunaga in the late 1500s, when it was placed under strict state control and those who practiced it were persecuted to some extent. During the Meiji Restoration (1868 AD) another wave of anti-Buddhism sentiment arose in Japan. Shinto was made the state religion and Buddhist schools were given the option to adapt to this change or dissolve and it remained this way until the end of World War II in 1945. Today Buddhism is freely practiced by anyone who wishes to in Japan.

Buddhism's Involvement in Funeral Customs of Japan:
When Buddhism arrived in Japan, death was taboo and everyone avoided contact with the dead at all costs. When someone died,their bodies were disposed of anywhere possible without any ceremonies. Buddhism first became invovled with death and funeral rituals when a famine in the Heian period left bodies rotting all over the streets. The Buddhist monks started burying the dead and reading sutras for their souls to rest in peace. Ever since that time, Buddhist monks actively involved themselves in funeral rites. Buddhist temples were originally built around cemeteries to make it easier for them to perform the funeral rituals. The typical Buddhist funerals, which are still celebrated today, were developed during the Edo Period (1603 to 1867), but are based upon older customs and concepts, which varied from area to area.

Buddhism in Fatal Frame

In Fatal Frame, the Buddha statues in the Buddha Room were used to hold the Ceremonial Ropes when the time came to take the Teal Carving out of storage to open the Moon Well. The Buddha Room serves as the Buddhist temple of Himuro Mansion. Buddhist sutras can be heard being chanted by the priests in this room during 3rd Night: The Calamity. This same chanting can be heard on 1st Night: The Strangling Ritual coming from the Tatami Room.

In the original Fatal Frame II, the outsiders who become Kusabi were said to be made into living Buddha before being offered to the Hellish Abyss. The word "Buddha" is absent from the Deep Crimson Butterfly version.

In Fatal Frame III, the dead body of the loved one that the Worshippers would bring to the Kuze Shrine would be hung from the arms of the Buddha in the Wooden Figure Room where their blood would be drawn by the Engravers to make the Ink of the Soul.

Japanese Culture
Religion
Buddhism - Shinto
Japanese Ghosts/Creatures
Funayūrei - Goryō - Hitodama - Ikiryō - Onryō - Ubume - Yōkai - Yūrei
Specific Japanese Ghosts/Creatures
Oiwa - Okiku - Yuki-onna
Terms
Dosojin - Grave Mound - Hannya Mask - Higanbana - Jizo - Kaidan - Miko - Mukoyōshi - Sanzu River - Shimenawa - Toro-Nagashi - Wara Ningyo
Locations
Northeastern Japan - Shizuoka - Sugisawa Village - Tono
Media and Entertainment
Kagome, Kagome - Ringu