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Religious iconography

The Asian continent is the cradle of all universal religions and also preserves countless other indigenous religious forms. Some forbid the representation of the Absolute, and others believe it has no form and can therefore be represented in any form. Religions are thus the source of most of humanity’s art and its main architectural monuments.

Aniconism in Shintō

The indigenous religion of Japan does not usually represent its gods (kami 神), which incarnate natural forces or ancestor spirits. The most famous is the sun goddess, Amaterasu, but the kami dwell in sanctuaries and houses, living in a shelter (shintai 神体), which may be a pine branch, a sword or a mirror. The faithful appease the gods by performing rituals, reciting prayers and making offerings as a sign of purity, gratitude and respect.

Bibliograpy

• Eracle, Jean. 1991. Civilisation des Samurai. Genève / Ivrea : Musée d'ethnographie / Priuli & Verlucca, no. 73