Religion WI: Shinto and Buddhism remain amalgamated

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.
 

Japhy

Banned
Perhaps if the Emperor isn't placed in actual control, and the Shogun's remain in power in a modernizing Japan they could support a continuing merger to limit the possible power of the Emperor?
 

maverick

Banned
That could be a good POD, a surviving Shogunate, or an alternate Emperor to Meiji...but does anybody have any idea of the potential social or religious effects of this change? Any experts on Eastern Religion out there?
 

Susano

Banned
Did it have so large effects? It seems to me most Japanese remained syncretic in practice. The only difference was that there were now two different lists of temples/shrines, and two "clergies" etc. (though its not like either was ever really coherent or well defined) - but the beliefs remained compatible...
 
I can't see any major change, since they reamalgated easily enough after WWII. The only real change I can see is that the militarists wouldn't use State Shinto as a propoganda tool, which might actually make them more influential among the elite and the urban, but less amongst the rural population.
 
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