In the history of Japanese Buddhism, Shimaji Mokurai (1838-1911) who belonged to the Hongwanji branch of the Jodo Shinshu, was an epochal figure. In the early years of the Meiji Reforms, he visited Europe and America to investigate the religious situation there with the aim of modernizing Japanese Buddhism. While travelling overseas, he also addressed the Meiji government in connection with the erroneous "three principles" policy towards religion. He tried his best to prevent the government from elevating Shintoism to the status of national religion and carrying out the mistaken strategy of rejecting and assimilating Buddhism by explaining to the authorities that paying respect to the gods does not equal patriotism and that one could well be patriotic without necessarily paying respect to the gods -state and religion should be separated. Shimaji Mokurai stressed that with its spirit of complete harmony between the two truths Buddhism was in an even better position to benefit the world and fulfil the aims of patriotism. In this way he put an end to ambitious attempts to make Shinto the state religion and discouraged the Meiji government from carrying out their assimilation policy towards the Buddhists. Unfortunately, however, Shimaji Mokurai's theory of religious freedom was only a means to counteract oppression from the Shinto side. He had not intention to include Christianity into the area freedom of choice was granted. Quite the contrary, he always maintained a chauvinistic attitude of protecting the fatherland and preventing heresy, wherefore he regarded Christianity as a devious teaching which should be rejected. Thus he lost a historic opportunity to prove with actions that it is both possible and important to enjoy freedom of belief. Maybe he even missed a chance to avoid the persecution of Christians carried out later by the Tokugawa government.
