Intangible Culture ISSN:2799-3868(Print) 무형문화연구

This study analyzes the research trend around Japanese Buddhist ‘rituals.’ In particular, this study focused on the culture of ‘burial rituals’ and investigated the research status and trend of each denomination of Japanese Buddhism. Most denominations of Japanese Buddhism have investigated the religious forces based on the religious body’s own research institute over a long period of time, assessed problems appearing here and conducted continuous studies to find a solution. The recent interest is the issues related to burial rituals. In the social atmosphere in Japan, “Japanese Buddhist burial rituals are not needed” now, low-cost and simplified funerals are required. In such a situation, what would be the role of Japanese Buddhism? This study introduced the present status of research on Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha and Nichiren-shu representative denominations of Japanese Buddhism to shed new light on the role of today’s Japanese Buddhism.