maverick
Banned
Little do people know, although few would doubt, that when Buddhism was introduced to Japan in the 6th century AD they simply assimilated and reconciled it with their own belief system rather than discard either the new or the old altogether. This is sycretism, IOTL under the form of Shinbutsu Shugo
There was of course conflict, problems, differences in opinion and outright hatred of the idea, but it pretty much worked out (more or less) with the reconciliation of the main doctrines and believes, and sharing of the Shrines, until the time of the Meiji Restoration, in which the Emperor declared Shinto to be the State Religion and declared the separation of both religions (Shinbutsu Kakuri)
Now, what if the Meiji Emperor had not instituted the Shinbutsu Kakuri?
What if he had seen a benefit in maintaining the status quo in regard with the other processes of reform?
Could we see an alternate cult to the Emperor, either more widespread or less, due to changing events?
Any fundamental changes in doctrine either in Buddhism (in Japan) or Shinto?
On one side, this would mean that Buddhism would not be, eh, persecuted as it was during the Meiji period, in which their properties were taken by the government or other groups, or Buddhist properties and Shrines destroyed as the Haibutsu Kishaku(Abolish Buddhism and Destroy Buddha) and Shinbutsu Bunri policies of the Meiji era.
There was of course conflict, problems, differences in opinion and outright hatred of the idea, but it pretty much worked out (more or less) with the reconciliation of the main doctrines and believes, and sharing of the Shrines, until the time of the Meiji Restoration, in which the Emperor declared Shinto to be the State Religion and declared the separation of both religions (Shinbutsu Kakuri)
Now, what if the Meiji Emperor had not instituted the Shinbutsu Kakuri?
What if he had seen a benefit in maintaining the status quo in regard with the other processes of reform?
Could we see an alternate cult to the Emperor, either more widespread or less, due to changing events?
Any fundamental changes in doctrine either in Buddhism (in Japan) or Shinto?
On one side, this would mean that Buddhism would not be, eh, persecuted as it was during the Meiji period, in which their properties were taken by the government or other groups, or Buddhist properties and Shrines destroyed as the Haibutsu Kishaku(Abolish Buddhism and Destroy Buddha) and Shinbutsu Bunri policies of the Meiji era.