Buddhism was imported to Japan in the sixth century. Unlike Confucianism, which was introduced in the same period, Buddhism profoundly affected many aspects of Japanese society. As Hall (1970: 56) commented: “The impact of Buddhism on Japan was certainly more profound and lasting than it was on China itself, and Japan still stands as one of the major strongholds of the Buddhist religion in the world today.” Although many aspects of Japanese society were affected by Buddhism, I will focus on three which are: first, the indoctrination of a new set of religious beliefs, second, being a major carrier of Chinese influences; and third, establishing a religious organisation with socio-political powers. Let us examine the above three aspects in turn.
