山王神道 · さんのうしんとう · history

Sannō Shintō

A syncretic tradition merging Tendai Buddhism with Shinto.

Definition

Sannō Shintō is a religious movement that emerged during the Heian period, combining elements of Shinto with Tendai Buddhist teachings. Central to this tradition is the worship of the Sannō deity, identified with the mountain deities and associated with the temple complex of Hiyoshi Taisha. This movement reflects the broader trend of syncretism in Japanese religion during the period, where different spiritual frameworks were integrated and manifested in a complex religious landscape.

Etymology

The term 'Sannō' refers to the three mountains, significant in both Shinto and Buddhist contexts.