Buddhism in Japan four Pure Land schools, three Zen schools (Rinzai, Sōtō and Ōbaku), and Nichiren. During the war, this was halved to 28 branches, but the law enforcing this was repealed following the end of the war, allowing former branches to return. Further, since then, many groups have split off from existing branches. 625: Introduced into Japan. The (formerly known as the *"Sātyasiddhi") is considered to be an offshoot of the Bahuśrutīya, an Indian Sautrāntika school of Nikaya Buddhism; however, the "Tattvasiddhi"s position was also close to that of the Sthavira nikāya. They were distinguished by a rejection of abhidharma as not
Buddhism in Japan as cultural institutions. A study about the reason for the growth in lay believers and increased engagement in society attributes the cause to Nichiren teachings of 'social responsibility': "In the tradition of Nichiren Buddhism, however, we find the Lotus Sutra linked to a view of social responsibility that is distinctive". According to an academic study, lay believers of Buddhism "...offer an alternative view of Japan where their form of Buddhism would form the religious foundation of a peaceful and psychologically and materially enriched society". ["East Asian Buddhism is very diverse in its teachings and monastic practices, and Japanese Buddhism, in