Buddhism and Shinto compared
Buddhism and Shinto side by side: where each began, what they teach, their scriptures, holy days and symbols, and the beliefs and practices they share.
Buddhism took shape in the Ganges plain, northern India (5th century BCE); Shinto in Japan (from prehistoric times; first written records 712–720 CE). Of the 24 broad features compared here, they share 1: pilgrimage. Only Buddhism: no creator god, rebirth, karma, a founder or prophet, a written scripture, monks and nuns, fasting, images in worship and non-violence to all life. Only Shinto: many gods or spirits, honouring ancestors, priests and sacred nature.
Buddhism only
- No creator god
- Rebirth
- Karma
- A founder or prophet
- A written scripture
- Monks and nuns
- Fasting
- Images in worship
- Non-violence to all life
Both
- Pilgrimage
Shinto only
- Many gods or spirits
- Honouring ancestors
- Priests
- Sacred nature
Side by side
| Question | Buddhism | Shinto |
|---|---|---|
| Where it began | The Ganges plain, northern India | Japan |
| When | 5th century BCE | From prehistoric times; first written records 712–720 CE |
| Founders and key figures | Siddhartha Gautama, called the Buddha (“the awakened one”) | — |
| Followers today | 324 million (about 4% of the world, 2020) | about 87 million (in Japan, 2021) |
| At the heart of it | The Four Noble Truths: There is suffering, It arises from craving, It can cease, A path leads there | The way of the kami: Kami in nature and ancestors, Purity (harae), Sincerity (makoto), Gratitude and harmony |
| Scriptures | Pali Canon (Tipitaka); Mahayana sutras; Chinese canon; Tibetan canon | Kojiki; Nihon Shoki; Engishiki |
| Main branches | Theravada, Mahayana | Shrine Shinto, Folk Shinto, Sect Shinto |
| Holy days | Vesak, Asalha Puja, Obon, Kathina, Bodhi Day, Losar | Hatsumode, Setsubun, Nagoshi no Harae, Gion Matsuri, Kanname-sai, Shichi-Go-San |
| Symbols | Dharma wheel, Lotus, Bodhi leaf, Stupa | Torii, Shimenawa, Sacred mirror |