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Japanese temples

Japanese Culture

Jinja vs Otera: The Five-Second Test

Torii gates and komainu point toward Shinto; sanmon gates, incense burners, Buddhist images, and cemeteries point toward a temple. Here is a fast test that still works when the two traditions share one site.

Dylan Carver

Japanese Culture

How Shinto and Buddhism Actually Show Up

Shinto and Buddhism often appear in Japan as calendar customs rather than declarations of faith. Here is how shrines, temples, New Year visits, funerals, charms, and everyday rituals fit together.

Dylan Carver