Similarities and differences between the indigenous beliefs of Shinto (Japan) and Mother Goddess Worship (Vietnam): an approach from cultural schema theory

Thanks to the reverence for nature, both the Vietnamese and Japanese communities worship deities associated with mountains, rivers and trees. Thus, these manifestations of nature worship are a distinctive feature of East Asian agricultural cultures, contributing to cultural identities worldwide. This article explores these traditions using field methods, participant observation, and quantitative and qualitative analysis of linguistic documents and ritual videos. The article has clarified that Mother Goddess worship in Vietnam and Shinto in Japan are essential to fulfilling spiritual needs, easing anxieties and nurturing ethical and communal values, reflecting both shared and unique aspects of these belief systems. It reveals how these beliefs shape cognition, behavior, lifestyle, and mindset in two communities through fact and concept schemas, procedure schemas and emotion schemas. Moreover, it highlights their enduring significance and the need for ongoing, interdisciplinary research, especially with religious beliefs in modern society.