Buddhism to Funeral Buddhism, how it's changed

Going over the history of Japanese Buddhism really quick.


It came to Japan in 6th century and was used to build constitutional laws. Buddhism was taken into the national poilical system and grew. More monks went to China to learn up-to-date Buddhism later on, then started more original Thoughts and Practices separatedly from the politics. Later, some monks interprated Buddhism based on the citizen's desires in the domestic battle era. They said that Buddhism can help you simply by praying with words. The citizens also desired to have a funeral based on Buddhism. Those monks answered the request and started connecting Buddhims and life/death. Further, in Edo-era, the goverment make citizens to belong to a temple group to ban Christinanity. This was to prevent revolts again the goverment by gaining arms from the foreing countries. Buddhism again tied with politics and gained an authority. Buddhism then concreted the style that was going on at the time, funeral Buddhism.


Not, the country has been very modernized. Connection between religious beliefs and community has become less, and even the funeral Buddhism is not well accepted in the society. Ever since the Buddhism became "funeral Buddhism", Japanese people has lost an enthusiasm in any sort of religion.




Satoshi Kajiyama