... the Buddha land."(de-Bary, pg 114) The significance of this is clear in that Emperor Shomu, who has just succeeded power to the throne, attributes his succession to power as no virtue of his own but the work of the Buddha. Furthermore, shomu goes on to say, " Already even in the distant seacoasts of this land have been made to feel the influence of our benevolence and regard for others, and yet not everywhere in this land do men enjoy the grace of Buddha's law."(deBary, pg 114) This passage indicates a clear sense of trying to promote the expansion of Buddhism by Emperor Shomu on Japanese lands. The significance of this promotion of Buddhism, is especially important when looking at the time period when this strong shift to Buddhism began to emerge. The Nara period marked the shifting of Power in Japan from Kyoto to Nara. The shifting imperial rule ...

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