BUDDHISM IN JAPAN by J. R. Mott

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 16, 1901

BUDDHISM IN JAPAN.

By J. R. Mott

[By Mr. J. R. Mott, of the World's Christian Federation.]

For many centuries Buddhism has been the great religion of Japan, but during the last nine or ten years it has manifested special activity and vigor. This is the result of the spread of Christianity and the wide diffusion of education. Among the evidences of this awakening are a revival in the study of Buddhism, the rebuilding of temples, the education of priests in certain sects, and the adoption of some of the methods of Christianity.

The chief hold of Buddhism is on the lower classes of Japan, who are so completely under the sway of its countless superstitions. It is a striking fact that it has no hold whatever on the educated classes. Among the large number of students and teachers whom we met personally on our extended tour thru Japan, we did not meet one who would call himself a Buddhist. The signs of the weakness of Buddhism are everywhere apparent. It is greatly rent with internal dissensions.

Its priesthood has been so illiterate that the government about two years ago issued an order requiring that priests receive the equivalent of a common-school education before being licensed. All bore testimony also to the shockingly immoral lives of the priests. As a class they seem to be corrupt thru and thru. It is said that the chief priest of the largest sect lives an openly vile life. The condition of things is so bad that even the secular press has warned the priests to reform or Buddhism must go down before Christianity. Even the government has issued edicts reprimanding the priests for their bad morals.

The Buddhists show consciousness of their weakness by adopting a number of the methods of Christianity, e. g., Sunday-schools, summer conferences, young men's Buddhist associations, women's work, the publication of magazines and tracts. Many of the priests have lost faith in Buddhism, and others freely recognize the superiority of Christianity, and would gladly unite with it.

We were told that there is a widespread feeling among the priests that Christianity is the coming religion of Japan. We would not, however, convey a wrong impression. Buddhism will die hard. Up to the present time the church in Japan has been so absorbed with the middle classes that it has not yet contested the ground with Buddhism among the lower classes. The power of superstition is very great. Its root is deep. For historical reasons the Japanese will long have respect for Buddhism. If it adapts itself to the changed conditions and keeps pace with modern education, the fight may be greatly prolonged.

In all probability, Buddhism, as a philosophy to be studied, will survive, but as a religion it is doomed. It may be changed in form, but it will still be a dead body—cold, lifeless, corrupt. It does not contain elements to make it a transforming force in human society. It has no regenerating power. It has no God. It does not nourish the soul. It can not satisfy man. It is without hope.