This [Meiji Era] movement resulted in the
destruction of tens of thousands of Buddhist temples throughout the country
together with their statuary, the forced laicization of large numbers of Buddhist
priests and widespread attacks on Buddhist doctrine and praxis, among other
repressive measures. In short, Buddhism was attacked as a superstitious, foreign
religion that had no place in a Japan modernizing at breakneck speed.
This is the second part of an article concerning the ethical and doctrinal changes to Japanese Buddhism that occurred as a result of its centuries long, syncretistic connection to the indigenous religion of Shintō.
The first part of this article, entitled “Counting the Cost of Buddhist Syncretism”, may be read here: http://www.jocbs.org/index.php/jocbs/article/view/186.
While reading the first article is not required, its contents will nevertheless provide a helpful context for the events described in this article.