• Had a privileged and secure position in society 
•  Tightly controlled by the government 
• Temples used as centres of compulsory religious registration in order to counter the spread of Christianity.
• However, it was intellectually on the defensive – many samurai intellectuals believed it was a contaminating influence and favoured Shinto or other ideologies. 

• In response to intellectuals against Buddhism, Bakufu requests that control on Buddhism is 3ghtened

• Policies are enforced in Okayama, Aizu and Mito domains which mostly include the abolition of temples and laicisation of monks

• Justification was that there were an excessive number of temples that were an economic drain

• Monks returned to agriculture or became Shinto priests 

• Japan faced a domestic and foreign crisis

• As a result, policies aimed at reducing Buddhism became more extreme in several domains including Mito, Tsuwano, Satsuma and Chōshū

• Part of efforts to strengthen domains

• Ten led to destruction and confiscation 

Buddhism was suddenly vulnerable and without protection • New government was less sympathetic than Bakufu

• Religious policy making power was given to Shinto advocates such as Kamei Koremi and Fukuba Bisei

• Reforms could now be made on a national scale 

• The goal of the government was not the eradica3on of Buddhism but the separation of Buddhism and Shinto Policies were quickly passed to:

• eliminate Buddhist influence from shrines

• make Shinto the national creed and state doctrine

• confiscate temple lands and property

• These policies were specifically to advance shinbutsu bunri and end syncretism between the two religions

• Other policies passed to undermine Buddhism 

• Its purpose was to achieve saisei icchi – union of rituals and government

• Where most religious policy was formed 

Its purpose was to explain and justify the policies of shinbutsu bunri throughout the country

• Promoted Shinto as the national creed

• Aimed to stop the spread of Buddhism and Chris3anity 

• Government didn’t intend for the destruction of temple property, but didn’t intervene unlike the Bakufu

• In many places those who were militantly anti-Buddhist were able to do as they liked which usually involved the destruction of Buddhist ritual items and statues

• Satsuma, Chōshū and Tosa con3nued to enforce severe policies focused on reducing Buddhism greatly 

During first few years Buddhists were unable to mount any sort of resistance to the new government’s policies

• However, there were eventually efforts from Buddhists to work together and recover

• Calls for a revival of religious discipline

• Suggestions of a renewed alliance between Buddhism and the state

• Acceptance of guilt from Buddhists 

During first few years Buddhists were unable to mount any sort of resistance to the new government’s policies

• However, there were eventually efforts from Buddhists to work together and recover

• Calls for a revival of religious discipline

• Suggestions of a renewed alliance between Buddhism and the state

• Acceptance of guilt from Buddhists