How Did Buddhism Influence Japanese Culture

During the Medieval period (1185–1600) in Japan there was change and innovation in Japanese literature. This period was largely influenced by the ideals of Buddhist and the ruling military class. During this time, Buddhist religions were also greatly influenced by the handling of the priests and monks. And there were many civil wars that led to different classes in the society. Actually, there are many different types of people who helped form the medieval period. People like the emperors and priests, women and poet author, and samurai. The work during the medieval periods usually consisted mentality distorted, not perfect, and deal with the unfortunate and retribution. Insights from life and death, ghost that haunted people, redemption through killing,

and the Buddhist religion. Japan’s medieval period was largely influenced by Buddhist and ruling military class.
First, during this period, there are many tales that were written into the ideals of the military, one of the most famous tales is “The Tale of Heike”. War tales like this focus on military strength, heroism, and Buddhist themes. This tale is about two family Minamoto and Taira, fighting for who should take control of Japan after the Genpei War. The Tale of the Heike was a long description about the defeats of the Taira clan and the victory of the Minamoto. It sets out a comprehensive story of the rise and fall of kiyomori. The sympathy of the Heike is with the Taira, who are presented as miserable noble,was overcome by the rough forces of Minamoto. The tale has the Japanese sense that their tradition is both courtly and military. Also shows the focus on military strength, Buddhism, and the glory warriors are clear thought The Tale of Heike.
An example can be seen in chapter four “The Battle at the Bridge”. During this section Prince Mochihito is escaping from the capitol, and finally found a hiding place in Mii-dera temple after pulling up the bridge for defense. The Taira pursue the Prince to the temple and attack his men, and eventually win the battle. However, during this battle there are many examples of brave warrior such as Tajima, when he successfully blocked many arrows, he gains his name as the arrow dodger.
Secondly, another famous tale that discuss about the influence of ruling military class was“An Account of my Hermitage” written by Kamo no Chomei. This tales was a Buddhist genre of hermit literature. This literature was when one chose an isolated life and acquired freedom to explore and express reflections without the restriction of normal life. People usually chosen this lifestyle turned their back on society or the ruling military class. “You retired to the seclusion of remote hills so that you might discipline your mind and practice the way, but your impure spirit belies your monkish grab”. (An Account to My Hermitage, Page, 392) Kamo no Chōmei describes the disaster which he had witnessed. He does not hint the fighting between the Taira and the Minamoto so it does not ruined the country. Kamo no Chōmei wrote about the five disasters he had witnessed which consisted fire, whirlwind, earthquake, famine, and the moving of the capital. He put these accounts as the world makes life hard to endure. This shows that how the war impact on one’s mentality.
Lastly, There is a clearly example of the importance of Buddhism in this chapter when Jomyu Meishu, after his glorified attack on the Taira, “He treated the places with moxa, wrapped his head in a cloth, and donned a white clerical robe.

Then he broke his bow to make a staff, shod his feet in low clogs and set off toward Nara” (The Tale of Heike, 311). This shows that “The Tale of Heike” is a focus on Buddhism and conflict. Another example that shows the focus on Buddhism was when Yorimasa is praying to Budddha before he commits suicide, “Like a fossil tree, Which has borne not one blossom, sad has been my life sadder still to end to my days, leaving no fruit behind me” (Imaging Japanese History page 3). This also shows the importance of Buddhism, and the concept of impermanence that accompanies it, in The Tale of Heike. These references to Buddhism throughout The Tale of Heike reflect the spread of Buddhism in medieval Japanese society, and the importance it had. The Tale of Heike is the matter of their compilation. The Tale of Heike was written by many different authors, and no one really knows how it is compiled. There were also changes and innovations during the medieval period in the ideals of the

Buddhist.
Overall, in the medieval period, different types of tales changes styles from theme, the changes due to war military, and Buddhist beliefs. The literature concentrates on the change with the society and influences. New practices and beliefs show what different people have to face. Such as the war tale “The Tale of Heike”, Japanese people’s attitudes changed through battle and war. Kamo no Chomei “An Account of my Hermitage” explain the hermit literature and how man turned to Buddhism. An important aspect for all these tales was that they are not happy and perfect, they tend to represent the sorrow of the people facing, love was ruined, how life ended, and how people being killed. The message in the medieval period is to represent how there was change through Buddhist and ruling military class. It has a trend, showing the unfortunate and helpless individuals face.
In conclusion, the medieval period of Japan, although given the title of medieval, this makes one think of war military and Buddhism. These ideals simply change the Japanese medieval society. The conflict and war military medieval period is reflected in war tales, such as The Tale of Heike. The important themes of Buddhism and impermanence are also evident in The Tale of Heike. In this period of time, written reflect these changes and innovations. One’s beliefs change through time, along with the Buddhist religion that started to prosper. The ruling military classes have referred blood or violence in the literature was accepted, and proves to be interesting to today’s readers. Yet, some scholars argue that the literature of Japan’s medieval period was largely influenced by Buddhist ideals and some argues that it was more influenced by the ideals of ruling military class. So there will be more opinions that would publish and discussed which would influence more people to read it. It is through examples of literature such as these, that people are given an insight into it, but both of the ideals; Buddhist and ruling military played an important role during the Japan medieval period.