Kizen

Kizen, also known as Kizen (non-being), was a fundamental concept in Watarai Shintō, a school that emerged in 13th-century Japan as a reaction against the amalgamation of Shintō and Buddhism. This school sought to distinguish indigenous Japanese beliefs from Buddhism, which had been introduced in the 6th century.12

Shintō, meaning "the way of kami," is the indigenous religious belief system of Japan. Kami are objects of worship and can include gods, deities, forces of nature, ancestors, and even inanimate objects like plants and rocks. Watarai Shintō viewed Kizen as the basic kami of the universe, serving as the foundation for all beings, including Buddhist figures. This school emphasized purification and prayer as means to connect with kami, giving deeper spiritual meaning to purification practices that have been part of ancient Shintō.2314