Usagi Yojimbo DojoBoard

Yo': Can anyone tell me which was the predominant belief system in feudal times? Buddhism or Shinto?

I don't know very much about this subject, but there are a couple of Wikipedia entries that might help answer your question:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shintoism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism_in_japan

If you're interested in this topic, you might want to read volumes 10 and 11 of Osamu Tezuka's Phoenix since the storyline in these volumes deals with conflict between Buddhism and indigenous Japanese religions (the story is a fantasy and includes scenes of Tengu and other Japanese Yokai fighting against Bodhisattvas).

Thank you "Jet" for your answer to my question. Both links will be very useful to me.

Shintoism is the religion of Japan, and Buddhism was imported by way of China. Both religions are non-exclusive, so co-exists alongside each other, so one could be both Shinto and Buddhist. It helps that there are many similar aspects to both.

Samurai seem to have been drawn to the Zen sect of Buddhism, because of its respect for nature and its view of the worls.

Many thanks Sakai-sensei! I have often wondered which of the two was predominant in Japan in Usagi's time. And to find out that they coexisted so intricately is fascinating! Its too bad the many facets and splinter groups of "judao-christianity" can't seem to do the same. Pity. Abayo!