# Shinto Under Control: The Ritsuryo System and the Secret Influence of Buddhism| Syncretism Series Ep. 2

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/ai-buddhism-university-the-history-of-japanese-buddhism-7833161/shinto-under-control-the-ritsuryo-system-and-the-secret-influence-of-buddhism-syncretism-series-ep-2
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/ai-buddhism-university-the-history-of-japanese-buddhism-7833161/shinto-under-control-the-ritsuryo-system-and-the-secret-influence-of-buddhism-syncretism-series-ep-2.md
Podcast: [AI Buddhism University: The History of Japanese Buddhism](https://stenobird.com/podcast/ai-buddhism-university-the-history-of-japanese-buddhism-7833161)
Published: 2026-04-11T04:47:32+00:00
Episode link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/shomon-akita7/episodes/Shinto-Under-Control-The-Ritsuryo-System-and-the-Secret-Influence-of-Buddhism-Syncretism-Series-Ep--2-e3hkmr7
Audio file: https://anchor.fm/s/11133f934/podcast/play/118167847/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-3-8%2F475684e2-bbd6-5b41-354b-33ea2c4f5afb.m4a
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Duration seconds: 1095

## Resource

Discover the hidden history and profound philosophy of Japanese Buddhism—guided by an authentic Japanese monk and powered by AI. Welcome to Episode 2 of our "Syncretism of Kami and Buddhas" series on AI Buddhism University! In our last episode, we explored the primal, "invisible" world of ancient Kami. But as the Japanese state began to centralize in the 7th and 8th centuries, everything changed. Why did the government suddenly order the construction of permanent shrines? Why did they create a complex "Headquarters" (the Office of Deities) to manage local spirits? Join En (The Expert) and Ren (The Curious Listener) as they dive into "The Will of the State." We discuss: The Corporate Takeover: How the Ritsuryo system acted like a corporate HQ, imposing rules on local "branch" shrines. The Engishiki Code: Decoding the massive guidebook that turned religion into a state-run system. Visualization & Resistance: The tension between the state's desire to "box" nature into buildings and the wild reality of local worship. The Buddhist Shadow: The shocking truth that "Shinto architecture" was actually a reaction to the overwhelming visual power of Buddhism. ■ Meet Your Guide: Shomon Akita 33rd Head Priest of Guzeiin Temple / Ordained Jodo Shu Priest / Buddhist Researcher Shomon’s exploration transcends borders, incorporating the rational core of Early Buddhism and the rich history of Japanese tradition. ■ 💡 About the Audio (AI Generation) This channel utilizes NotebookLM for audio generation. While we strive for accuracy, please forgive any occasional mispronunciations of complex terminology. Advice is always welcome in the comments! ■ Requests & Inquiries Have a specific monk, sutra, or historical era you want us to cover? Let us know in the comments! ■ Creator's Person…

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