Although the Edict for Separation of Shinto and Buddhism was not issued for the purpose to exclude Buddhism from the country, it triggered a nationwide anti-Buddhism campaign, and people destroyed temples and Buddhist altar fittings across the country.
神仏分離令は仏教排斥を意図したものではなかったが、これをきっかけに全国各地で廃仏毀釈運動がおこり、各地の寺院や仏具の破壊が行なわれた。