Buddhism and society in the medieval estate system

Abstract

Beginning with beliefs and practices tied to the agricultural cycle, medieval Japanese society was pervaded by Buddhist influences. Proceeding on the assumption that thaumaturgy and polytheism characterized medieval Japanese religion, this article delineates the various intersections of society and and religion in medieval Japan, including religion in the village, family temples of warrior lords, and religious life in urban areas. In conclusion, the author characterizes medieval wandering ascetics and their stance of independence from the established social order as fundamental to medieval Japanese religion and to the Japanese intellectual tradition.