Synopsis This book attempts a historical and critical perspective and an integral approach. The Indian cultural elements that Buddhism carried beyond geographical boundaries to the far east, Japan, have been studied and analyzed in a new dimension. The Indian element is reflected in every sphere of the Japanese culture of eighth and ninth centuries during which the formative period of Chinese Buddhism came to an end. Only sects of general importance arose and that was a direct import from India, as the contribution of individuals rather than the result of the international exchanges for the strong cultural bonds between India and Japan, specially the rule of Pallava dynasty in the south and Pala dynasty in the north, during which both Buddhism and Saivism enjoyed the royal patronage on par. The assimilation of these two faiths had been taken specially by the individuals to China from where it had been carried to Japan, as the amalgamation of the two faiths. The assimilation of the two faiths have reflected in language and literature, religion and philosophy, art and architecture, iconography, festivals and faiths, as an offshoot of the religion that was in practice.