The History

Founded by Buddha (or Siddhartha Gautama) between the 6th and 4th centuries B.C., Buddhism was introduced to Japan around the 6th century. However, the situation began to change when Empress Suiko, a devotee of Buddhism, ascended the throne in 592.

Prince Shotoku, who served Empress Suiko as regent, was one of the most important figures in the spread of Buddhism. Prince Shotoku built numerous temples throughout Japan, including Shitennoji Temple in Osaka and Horyuji Temple in Nara. He is also the subject of numerous anecdotes, such as meeting Daruma, the founder of the Zen sect of Buddhism, and being the reincarnation of the bodhisattva Kannon (Goddess of Mercy). Whether or not these stories were true, such anecdotes about Prince Shotoku led to an increase in the number of believers in Buddhism.

After the 8th and 9th centuries, Buddhism became more rooted in daily life than in conceptual beliefs. Additionally, it became deeply connected with Shintoism, an ancient Japanese religion. These two religions merged over the centuries as they grappled with common philosophical issues and eventually became a part of the daily life of the Japanese people. Furthermore, Buddhist temples, called Jinguji, were built at Shinto shrines, which are places of worship. Some temples also began to have handbasins for purification, and some shrines began to have komainu (guardian dogs), which are the guardian animals of the Buddhist faith.

When the Meiji Restoration of 1868 returned the ruler of Japan from the Shogun to the Emperor, Buddhism was plunged into a state of crisis. The Imperial Japanese government instituted a policy of “Shinto/Buddhism separation,” whereby Shinto, Japan’s ancient religion, was designated as the state religion, and Buddhism, which had been introduced from abroad, was completely separated from it. This led to a movement called “Haibutsu Kishaku” (a movement to abolish Buddhism), which had a major impact, not only in terms of religious theory but also in terms of the removal of all Buddhist elements from shrines that had previously enshrined Buddhist statues and other objects.

The Number of the Temples in Japan

77,256

Japanese 13 Schools

Kegon 華嚴宗 (華厳経) (State)

Hosso 法相宗 (唯識) 

Ritsu 律宗 (四分律) (Disciplinary)

Tendai 天台宗 (Imperial)

Shingon 眞言宗 (also Mikkyo 密教)

Rinzai 臨濟宗 (Zen)

Soto 曹洞宗 (Zen)

Obaku 黄檗宗 (Zen)

Pure Land (Jodo) 淨土宗 (Amida)

Jodo Shin 眞宗 (Amida)

Yuzu-nembutsu 融通念佛宗 (Amida)

Ji 時宗 (Amida)

Nichiren 日蓮宗 (Lotus Sutra)