20 Facts About Japanese Buddhism

Japanese Buddhism has been practiced in Japan since about the 6th century CE.

Japanese Buddhism created many new Buddhist schools, and some schools are original to Japan and some are derived from Chinese Buddhist schools.

Japanese Buddhism has had a major influence on Japanese society and culture and remains an influential aspect to this day.

Japanese Buddhism is said to have built a thatched hut in Yamato and enshrined an object of worship there.

However, it can still be said that in the middle of the sixth century, Japanese Buddhism was introduced through official diplomatic channels.

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Japanese Buddhism is believed to have sent envoys to China and is even seen as a spiritually accomplished bodhisattva who is the true founder of Japanese Buddhism.

Japanese Buddhism grew here through the support and efforts of two main groups: immigrant kinship groups like the Hata clan, and through aristocratic clans like the Soga.

Tendai Japanese Buddhism was particularly influential, and the veneration of the Lotus Sutra grew in popularity, even among the low class and non-aristocratic population, which often formed religious groups such as the "Lotus holy ones" and mountain ascetics .

Japanese Buddhism introduced the Chan lineage of Caodong, which would grow into the Soto school.

Japanese Buddhism criticized ideas like the final age of the Dharma, and the practice of apotropaic prayer.

Japanese Buddhism then traveled to China to study Zen and later founded Tofukuji.

Japanese Buddhism reformed devotional practices with a focus on Shinran and honzon scrolls inscribed with the nembutsu.

Japanese Buddhism wrote a book on zen and martial arts addressed to the samurai.

Japanese Buddhism sought to interpret Buddhist thought through a more rational lens and drew on Western philosophy as well as the teachings of the historical Buddha to do so.

Japanese Buddhism was a prolific author of around 120 books, including Shinri kinshin and Bukkyo katsu ron .

One of the first such Japanese Buddhism academics was Nanjo Bunyu, who studied Sanskrit at Oxford with Max Muller and later took a position at Tokyo Imperial University.

Japanese Buddhism focused on the universal values of world Buddhism and wrote critically regarding the historical bias of Japanese Buddhism in works such as Daijo bussetsu ron hihan .

Japanese Buddhism populace was aware of Buddhist involvement in aiding and promoting the war effort.

Study about the reason for the growth in lay believers and increased engagement in society attributes the cause to Nichiren teachings of 'social responsibility': "In the tradition of Nichiren Japanese Buddhism we find the Lotus Sutra linked to a view of social responsibility that is distinctive".

Japanese Buddhism is very diverse with numerous independent schools and temple lineages that can be traced back to ancient and medieval Japan, as well as more recent Japanese New Religious movements and modern lay organizations.