Although it generally refers to the syncretism of Japanese faith in Jingi (gods of heaven and earth) and Buddhism, in a broad sense, it may refer to a syncretism of an indigenous belief and Buddhistic that had happened in various parts of the world as Buddhism was spread.
一般的に日本で神祇信仰と仏教との間に起こった現象を指すが、広義では、世界各地に仏教が広まった際、土着の信仰との間に起こった現象をも指す。