Buddhism in contemporary Japan exhibits several distinctive characteristics: In a country that sometimes prides itself on having achieved a secular society, the Buddhist religion often seems marginal to contemporary Japanese culture. Yet surveys reveal that a large majority (roughly 75%) identifies itself as Buddhist. In institutional terms, Japanese Buddhism is simply the sum of its denominations, and being a Buddhist means being a member of

During its long history in China, which spans nearly 20 centuries, Buddhism developed flourishing traditions, exerted far-reaching influence on intellectual and religious life, and left its mark on virtually all aspects of Chinese society and culture. By that time Buddhism had already establish a strong presence within the Central Asian kingdoms that controlled most of the trade along the Silk Road.