Buddhism In Japan
Buddhism has been practiced in Japan since at least 552, though some Chinese sources place the first spreading of the religion earlier during the Kofun period (250 to 538). Buddhism has had a major influence on the culture and development of Japan over the centuries, and remains an important part of the culture. About 90 million people in Japan claim to be Buddhist practitioners and/or believers, which accounts for about 70% of the population. Due to syncretism in Japan, many Buddhists also profess adherence to Shinto – these are not exclusive, and there is substantial overlap. In modern times, Japan's most popular schools of Buddhism are Amidist (Pure Land), Nichiren Buddhism, Shingon Buddhism and Zen Buddhism.
The root of the Japanese word for Buddhism, bukkyō (仏教?) comes from 仏 (butsu, “buddha”) + 教 (kyō, “teaching”).
Read more about Buddhism In Japan: Japanese Buddhist Schools, Cultural Influence
Famous quotes containing the words buddhism and/or japan:
“A religion so cheerless, a philosophy so sorrowful, could never have succeeded with the masses of mankind if presented only as a system of metaphysics. Buddhism owed its success to its catholic spirit and its beautiful morality.”
—W. Winwood Reade (1838–1875)
“I do not know that the United States can save civilization but at least by our example we can make people think and give them the opportunity of saving themselves. The trouble is that the people of Germany, Italy and Japan are not given the privilege of thinking.”
—Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945)