BUDDHISM IN JAPAN: Buddhism was introduced into Japan from Korea in the year 522. In the beginning, as a foreign religion, it met with resistance but was recognized in 585 by Emperor Yomei. During the period of government of Prince Shōtoku (593-621) Buddhism was the official religion of Japan. Shōtoku decreed in 594 that the three precious ones (triratna) were to be venerated. He fostered the study of the Buddhist scriptures, himself composed important commentaries to several sūtras, and had monasteries built. He founded, among others, the famous monastery Hōryū-ji in Nara. Chinese and Korean monks were invited as teachers, and the first Japanese joined the Buddhist community. During this early period it was primarily the Sanron school that spread.
During the Nara period (710-794) there were already six Buddhist schools in Japan, which were brought over from China and officially recognized in the 9th century: the Kosha, Hossō, Sanron, Jōjitsu, Ritsu, and Kegon schools. Buddhism was firmly established in the imperial house, which especially took the teaching of the Kegon school as the basis of its government. The Sūtra of Golden Light was of particular importance. The most famous monasteries in Nara stem from this time. During the Heian period (794-1184) the Tendai and Shingon schools gained in influence and became the dominant forms of Buddhism in Japan. The relationship of monks to the imperial house became even closer. Buddhism became de facto the state religion.
Around the middle of the 10th century Amidism began to spread; in the Kamakura period (1185-1333) it was organized into the Jōdo-shū and the Jōdo-shinshū. In 1191 Zen came to Japan and has remained until today the most vital form of Japanese Buddhism. Two schools of Zen are of major importance: Sōtō and Rinzai.
In the 13th century the Nichiren school emerged. In the following centuries, in part owing to the political situation, there were no significant new developments in Japanese Buddhism.
In the 19th century Shintoism was elevated to the state religion. Since the Second World War there are clear signs of a renaissance of Buddhism in Japan. A whole series of popular movements have taken place, such as Sōka Gakkai, Risshō Koseikai, Nipponzan Myōhōji, which, thanks to their concern for adapting Buddhism to modern times, have a very large following.
Source: The Encyclopedia of Eastern Philosophy and Religion: Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Zen. Shambhala Publications, Inc.
Documents on Japanese Buddhism
Books on Japanese Buddhism
External Link: Buddhism in Japan