Confucianism as the Basis of the Buddhist Catechism in Its Assimilation into Japanese Thought—Focusing on the Synthesis of Benevolence 仁 and Compassion 慈悲 in the Nihon-ryōiki

This paper examines the intersection of Confucianism and Buddhism as presented in the Nihon-ryōiki (NIH), focusing on the catechetical efforts of its Buddhist author to fuse these ethical traditions. A central concern of the text is the introduction of karmic law and rebirth, concepts that Buddhism imported from ancient India that were not fully accepted in Japanese society at the time of its composition. This study explains how many of the miracles described in the NIH are consistent with Confucian values, particularly in their emphasis on benevolence, compassion, and social duty. In this paper, I argue for synthesizing Confucian and Buddhist ethics in the NIH as universal values that underscore the importance of social harmony based on filial duty—the Confucian worldview underlying the NIH’s linking of personal conduct to the cosmic law of karmic retribution.