The Spiritual Life of Japan Trivia Quiz

Answer: One ton

Each mikoshi weighs approximately one ton and requires 40 people to carry each one at any given time. Several hundred people are used during the final day of the festival to carry the portable shrine down the streets. The shrines of the Sanja Matsuri are honoring the three founders of the Senso-ji Buddhist temple. Sanja Matsuri means Three Shrine Festival and is held annually in May.

Jaknginger of PR's Red Crew carried this question into the team quiz.

Answer: Statue of Buddha

A butsudan, or butudan, is a home Buddhist altar which usually contains a religious icon such as a painting or statue of the Buddha. It often contains memories of deceased loved ones, even funerary urns. There may be platforms for offerings such as tea and fruit. Many homes, especially in more rural areas, contain a butsudan.

Player pusdoc offered up this question for the Red Crew

Answer: False

Religion is on the decline in Japan but many couples getting married still want to satisfy their deep-seated spiritual needs. As a compromise, many are eschewing the shrines and traditional wedding kimonos called hakama, shiromuku, for a Western-style Christian wedding held in a church, church hall or hotel. It is thought that the trend began after seeing Western weddings in movies, and they became popular as they are shorter and more 'casual' compared to the traditional ceremonies. Many wedding publications in Japan estimate that 60 to 80 percent of all weddings held in Japan are a Western-style wedding.

Phoenix Rising's Red Crew member leith90 escorted this question down the aisle and into the quiz.

Answer: Buddhism

Hancock and Turner practice a form of Buddhism, based on the teachings of a 13th century priest, Nichiren, especially his interpretation of the "Lotus Sutra". Religious organizations founded in Japan after the mid-1800s are considered "new religions". A Japanese Buddist movement, known as Soka Gakkai, was founded in 1930, but had a hiatus during World War II. After the war was over, they rebuilt the movement and undertook a massive recruitment drive. Soka Gakkai International operates in nearly 200 countries, and claims nearly 20 million adherents to Buddhism. Its goals are to support "peace, culture and education". Their major beliefs include the recognition of the interdependence of life; that people should live in such a way as to create value and that Buddhism is meant to transform society. Chanting is an important practice.

This question was transformed by player pusdoc as part of the Red Crew's participation in the Phoenix Rising Global Tour 2022.

Answer: Kawaradera

Unfortunately, none of the four 7th century original temples remain today. Kudara Odera grand temple had a 9 story pagoda of which only the foundations might be identified. Kawaradera, which was also a monastery, has been excavated and reconstructed, originally having two golden halls. Yakushiji has been reproduced and is brightly coloured. Asuja-Dera was the first temple and it had three golden halls. Unfortunately, the original site is buried under the car park for nearby royal palaces.

Myoo-in is in Hiroshima and has a 5 storied pagoda, Nanzoin is in Sasaguri and is famous for its reclining statue of Buddha. Fukusai-ji is in Nagasaki and was reconstructed in the shape of a turtle.

smpdit would love to tour the temples and check out the architecture.

Answer: Amaterasu

In the Shinto religion, the term kami can be used to dexcribe an element of the natural world or a divine entity or spirit. There are thus hundreds of kami in Shinto. Possibly the most well known kami in Shinto is Amaterasu, the legendary sun goddess whose grandson Ninigi was the great-grandfather of the first Emperor of Japan. Other prominent kami of Shinto include Ame-no-Uzume, the goddess of dawn and revelry, and Fujin, the god of the wind.

This question was spirited into the quiz by Phoenix Rising teammate and Red Crew member Triviballer as part of the team's 2022 World Tour.

Answer: Fushimi Inari Taisha

The Fushimi Inari Taisha is not one shrine, but rather a network of shrines to honour the kami Inari. The Honden, or main hall, and the main gate stand at the base of the Mt Inari, and lead to the famed tunnel of torii gates. The trek to the top can take 2 hours, with several mounds, statues and small shrines along the way. The Inari is the protector of rice cultivation and promoted prosperity, both of which were as essential in the 1st century as they are today.

The Harmandir Sahib is known as the Golden Temple and is found in India. The Lotus Temple is also in India, while there are two Tiger Cave Temples, one in Thailand and one in India.

Phoenix Rising's Red Crew member, leith90, has not yet seen the Fushimi Inari Taisha, but would love to see it on her next visit to Japan.

Answer: Francis Xavier

Francis Xavier was born in the Kingdom of Navarre in 1506. He died at the age of 46. Each year on December 3, he is remembered and honored with the Day of Navarre in Spain. He was a founding member of the Jesuits within the Catholic Church. Jesuits are members of the Society for Jesus and he was their first overseas missionary. He did extensive missionary work in modern-day Portugal, India, southeast Asia and Japan.

Jaknginger added this question during PR's Global Tour.

Answer: Christianity

Matsukura Katsuie, the feudal lord, or daimyo, of the Shimabara Domain raised taxes for castle construction and prohibited Christianity. The domain had previously been ruled by a convert to Christianity, so a large proportion of the local populace also professed a Christian faith. A rebellion by Catholic peasants and local warriors was met by a large force sent by the shogun, enhanced by the Dutch, which defeated the rebels. Tens of thousands of the rebels, including the 16-year-old leader Amakusa Shiro and the daimyo Katsuie lost their heads over this event. The shogunate drove the Portuguese traders out of the country after this rebellion, suspicious that they had helped fan the flames. Christianity was firmly banned, and Japanese isolationism increased.

Player pusdoc fought for inclusion of this question on behalf of Phoenix Rising's Red Crew.

Answer: Asceticism

Siddhartha Gautama was born in approximately 563 BCE in Lumbini, which is located in the nation of Nepal near its border with India. He was a fervent proponent of asceticism and through meditation he achieved enlightenment (Nirvana) at a site known as Bodh Gaya. His teachings became the basis for the religion of Buddhism and he is venerated as its founder and is typically referred to as simply Buddha. Although it is commonly associated with Buddha, asceticism is also practiced in other major religions including Jainism, Hinduism, Islam, Christianity and Judaism.

This question was pensively put into the quiz by Phoenix Rising teammate and Red Crew member Triviaballer as part of the team's 2022 World Tour.