Cultural Fusion in Medieval Japan

The introduction of Buddhism from China into Japan had a profound impact on Japanese society and culture, shaping cultural, political, and social developments from that point forward. Buddhism was part of a larger pattern of Chinese cultural influence on Japan, each component of which tended to reinforce the others. However, it would be inaccurate to say that Chinese culture supplanted or displaced traditional Japanese values and beliefs. Instead, Chinese and Japanese cultural elements were fused, creating new cultural hybrids. This statue from a Buddhist temple in Nara, Japan, exemplifies this process. As you examine it, consider its implications. What does it tell you about the fusion of Buddhism and Shintoism in ancient Japan?

READING AND DISCUSSION QUESTIONS