Japanese philosophy

Japanese Philosophy has historically been a fusion of both indigenous Shinto and continental religions, such as Buddhism and Confucianism. Formerly heavily influenced by both Chinese philosophy and Indian philosophy, as with Mitogaku and Zen, much modern Japanese philosophy is now also influenced by Western philosophy.

Ancient and medieval thought

Before feudalism was firmly established in Japan, Buddhism occupied the mainstream of Japanese thought. The Buddhist culture introduced politically by Prince Shotoku is completed as the “making a country safe” thought in the Nara era. When the Heian era (794-1185) began, in substitution for the “making a country safe thought”, form of esoteric Buddhism collectively known as mikkyo became widespread. However, in the late noble era when pessimism was popular due to the “belief that Buddhism will decline during the latter days of this world”, the Pure Land movements spread out encouraging anticipation of a 'future life' as a means to cope with desperation over 'life in this world'. During the Kamakura era (1185-1333) when government dominated by the samurai class began, a “new” Buddhism for the newly-risen class (samurai) appears.