Spiderman
Veteran Member
So, as a Shinto-Catholic, Yasukuni has become my Mecca, the holy place I turn to in heart and spirit when I pray.
"When the Emperor Meiji visited Tokyo Shokonsha for the first time on January 27 in 1874, he composed a poem; "I assure those of you who fought and died for your country that your names will live forever at this shrine in Musashino"
Currently, more than 2,466,000 divinities are enshrined here at Yasukuni Shrine. These are souls of men who made ultimate sacrifice for their nation since 1853 during national crisis such as the Boshin War, the Seinan War, the Sino-Japanese and Russo-Japanese wars, World War I, the Manchurian Incident, the China Incident and the Greater East Asian War (World War II). These people, regardless of their rank or social standing, are considered to be completely equal and worshipped as venerable divinities of Yasukuni.
Japanese people believe that their respect to and awe of the deceased is best expressed by treating the dead in the same manner as they were alive.
the nature of the shrine has its origin in the traditional Japanese way of thinking which is to commemorate the deceased eternally by enshrining them as object of worship.
At Yasukuni Shrine, there enshrined many people who sacrificed themselves in the Boshin War, the Saga Uprising and the Seinan War. These wars broke out as the starting point of modern Japan. Among the enshrined are Yoshida Shoin and Sakamoto Ryoma who are famous historic figures for their activities which lead to the Meiji Restoration. Also enshrined are many soldiers who died in wars such as the Sino-Japanese War, the Russo-Japanese War, the First World War, the Manchurian Incident, the China Incident, and the Greater East Asian War (Second World War) to protect their country. Currently, there are more than 2,466,000 divinities enshrined at the shrine.
Not only soldiers' spirits are enshrined here, but also other people are enshrined. There are women's and school girls' divinities who were involved in relief operation on battlefields, a great number of students who went to work in factories for the war effort. There also enshrined ordinary Japanese citizens, Taiwanese and Korean people died as Japanese, the people who died during the Siberian detaining, and who were labeled war criminals and executed after having been tried by the Allies.
Here at Yasukuni Shrine, these people, regardless of their rank or social standing, are considered to be subject of completely equal respect and worshipping because the only purpose of the shrine is to commemorate those who sacrificed their lives for their nation. That is, the 2,466,000 divinities enshrined at Yasukuni Shrine all sacrificed their lives to the public duty of protecting their motherland.
The site for the Yasukuni Shrine, originally named Tōkyō Shōkonsha (東京招魂社, "shrine to summon the souls"),
http://www.yasukuni.or.jp/english/about/deities.html
It is a religious shrine established in 1869 to embed the supremacy of the Shinto faith, the divinity of the Emperor, and the centrality of the Imperial institution into the national polity. At Yasukuni, those fighting for the Emperor from the civil wars of mid-nineteenth century Japan through the end of the Pacific War were transformed into divine spirits to join as one with the Emperor. Here the common foot soldier was rewarded in death by becoming equal to the Emperor.
Kamikaze pilots would tell each other, before going on the mission, that they would see each other again at Yasukuni shrine.
Yasukuni is now a private park that hosts religious rites as well as festivals. To the left (south) of the main sanctuary, behind often-locked gates, is the Chinreisha, a small shrine which pacifies the souls of Imperial Japan’s enemies so that they will not cause trouble to the living. Encircling the property are a series of small memorial shrines created by various Japanese WWII military units including the notorious Kempeitai (Military Police).
in 1959, the Japanese government created near Yasukuni Chidorigafuchi a public park that contains a crypt for the ashes of thousands of unknown soldiers, sailors, and likely civilians who died in the Pacific War. Every year, coinciding with Memorial Day in the United States, there is an official ceremony attended by the Prime Minister, a member of the Imperial Family, and foreign ambassadors to add new ashes to the ossuary.
Sorry, Japan: Yasukuni Is Not Arlington
My question for you is, are there other Shrines besides Shinto Shrines that honor their war dead in such a way? I'm convinced that the souls who are honored in such a way, receive reward, power, purification, transformation, glory, and exaltation in the next life, when they receive such honors, prayers, offerings, and worship from the living.
The Vietnam memorial or Arlington and other memorials I know of are not like Yasukuni. It isn't a place where "souls are summoned" and offerings made for them. The Vietnam memorial is not staffed by priests and clergy like Yasukuni is, and there isn't a Temple-like structure that is believed to be the house, the dwelling place of their spirits.
The souls at Yasukuni are exalted as much as Catholics exalt canonized Saints, and arguably greater exaltation, because they are worshipped and treated as Divinities (The Catholic Church does not believe the Saints are Divinities or that they should be worshipped as such.)
Essentially, the Shinto Emperor, is the head priest of the Shinto faith. He is essentially their Pope. Yasukuni shrine in a sense would be like the Pope telling America that every one of their war dead in Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, and wherever, are going to be enshrined at Saint Peter's Basilica, their names written in a "book of Souls", and they are each going to be canonized, and venerated as Catholic Saints.
I think it's awesome that the Shinto faith holds in such high esteem, those who gave their lives for their country.
Thoughts?
