In 552, budda statues and sutras; sacred literature telling religious techniques, were introduced to Japan from Paekche while It is argued that Buddhism was introduced in 538 based on descriptions in "Jogu Shotoku Hooteisetsu" (Biography of Shotoku Taishi), "Ganjo-ji temple garan engi", (the history of Ganjoji temple), (both saying 538 is the year when Buddhism came to Japan.
552年(欽明天皇13年)に百済から仏像と経文が伝来する（仏教伝来そのものに関しては、『上宮聖徳法王帝説』（「志癸島天皇御世戊午年十月十二日」）『元興寺伽藍縁起』（天國案春岐廣庭天皇七年歳戊午十二月）を根拠として戊午年・538年とする説が有力である。