Dual religion at Natadera

Shinto side by side with Buddhism in autumn sunshine

By Cathy Cawood

Community writer

Stone torii behind a moss covered tree trunk

Sunlit maple leaves behind a stone torii

A series of stone torii leading to a shrine

Fortune paper tied to a sprig of red berries

Magnificent statue of a samurai on horseback - possibly Lord Toshitsune Maeda who rebuilt Natadera after it burned down

Buddhism and Shinto have co-existed peacefully in Japan for many hundreds of years. One example of this can be seen at Natadera in Ishikawa Prefecture. There is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the gods of nearby Mount Hakusan side by side with Buddhist shrines. On a sunny autumn day I admired the maple leaves, and I gave thanks for beauty, peace, and tolerance.

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By Cathy Cawood

Community writer

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Sherilyn Siy 5 years ago

My favorite photo has to be the stone torii with the moss covered tree in the foreground. Great photos.

Justin Velgus 10 years ago

Before the Meiji Revolution in 1868, this was even more common and sometimes the shrine and temple would be the same exact building. How did the Japanese people who favored Shintoism (shrines) and the nobles of the court preferring Buddhism (temples) get along so well? One factor was a general agreement that Shinto deities are all just various forms of Buddha. This allowed both religions to flourish together in some parts of Japan.