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,

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