ABSTRACT
Confucianism had contributed to legal and educational institutions, the amalgamation of Shinto with Buddhism had made progress. But there was something missing in the spiritual life of the nation—a basic unity of ideas and beliefs and a deeper foundation of spiritual and moral life. More unity was the need of the time, both in the sphere of politics and of religion. The new capital was eminent for the beauty of its environs and it became the centre of culture, the stage of a brilliant court life, remaining the imperial residence until the revolution in 1868. The ambitious scheme started by the two great leaders in conjunction with the new political era was to unite Japanese Buddhism in one centre and to embrace all social work under the control of one organized church. It is also to be noted that the beauty of the place had much to do with the sentimental life of the residents.
