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4.

BUDDHISM IN PRESENT- DAY JAPANBuddhism prospered in outward appearancesduring the Tokugawa Period extending for 250 years.It was revered by the people who spent the greatpart of their income in erecting and maintainingtemples. But Buddhism of that period was underthe fetters of formalism. It prospered only out-wardly. It lacked in a spiritual vigour and theclergy failed to put the spirit of progress, libertyand justice into their work. Thus, Buddhism wasin a state of decadence during the several hundredyears of our feudal period. The Imperial Restora-tion of Meiji broke down the formalism by whichBuddhism had been placed in outward splendorbut in inward decadence. After the Imperial Re-storation, Buddhism seemed to have been greatlyweakened in its social and spiritual influence. How-ever, the fact remains that Buddhism or ratherBuddhistic conceptions still form the foundation ofJapanese national traits and ideas. One may trulysay that the real glory of Oriental Glossar ::: zum Glossareintrag  Oriental civilization isBuddhism, and that this glory is seen in its mostdazzling splendor in Japanese national traits.Japan is ready to contribute towards the develop-ment of humanity and the preservation of universalpeace, for pacifism and humanity are the two prin-cipal social aims of Buddhism.