THE

RELATIONS BETWEEN JAPANESENATIONAL TRAITS AND

BUDDHISM

BY

The Rev. BENKYO SHIIO, LL. D.

I. INHERENT NATIONAL TRAITS

It is widely known that Japan's recorded historyextends over a period of 2,500 years and this waspreceded by several thousand years of a pre- historicperiod. Thus, Japan has had a long line of unbrokennational development. Other nations may indeedhave their own histories, in some cases, as long asthat of Japan; but in the case of our history it hascontinued under the same social life, undisturbedby a political revolution or downfall, and hasmade ceaseless social and political improvementsdemanded at each stage of our national existence.This historical process is peculiar to our nation,and constitutes the foundation of our racial charac-teristics.

Man is chiefly distinguished from the beast in

SKUNDE

4000

BIBLIOTHEK

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