Introduction to Civilization Paper

Introduction to Civilization
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The ways of life in Japan were heavily influenced by the religious, political and social ways in China. The belief systems in Japan are majorly Shintoism and Buddhism, the former being an ancient belief system for the Japanese while the latter having being introduced to Japan by china (Spodek, 2005). Before Buddhism was introduced in Japan, the social, political and religious characteristics were inclined towards Shintoism, which was cultured from the beliefs of spirits and gods all rather shamanistic and animistic religious beliefs. The ancient Japanese religious beliefs were greatly influenced by the characteristics of the Chinese religions of Taoism and Confucianism. Taoism was a Chinese religion that provided the Japanese religion of Shintoism with philosophy concepts that helped shape the lives of the believers. Confucianism, on its part was instrumental to the shaping of Shintoism since it provided a...