Buddhism was generally the samurais religion in japanese history. Generally, because they also did practice shinto to some extent. However, Shinto was the religion of the masses and the imperial court, with the emperor also being the high priest of shintoism.
Generally both are linked, next to every Buddhist temple is a shinto shrine and vice versa.
Yes the origin of buddhism in Japan is linked to the first known historical conflict between great clans in VI century, when clan Soga rivalled clans Mononobe and Nakatomi over the influence on the weakening imperial clan. Nakatomi were priestly clan that held a lot of positions and influence over the shinto temples and so Soga invited buddhist monks, which was at first unsuccessful but then they gained upper hand and buddhism too stayed for good*. But as you wrote it was rather aristocratic religion because it was back then rather esoteric and not very appealing to people who lived door to door with their gods and spirits, only much later the Pure Land sects gained a lot of popularity among the people, but shinto never waned.
*btw Nakatomi ultimately won, they purged Sogas, accepted and promoted buddhism themselves when they noticed it can be used and ultimately dominated the japanese politcs for centuries since powerful clan Fujiwara originated from them.
Buddhism was generally the samurais religion in japanese history. Generally, because they also did practice shinto to some extent. However, Shinto was the religion of the masses and the imperial court, with the emperor also being the high priest of shintoism.
Generally both are linked, next to every Buddhist temple is a shinto shrine and vice versa.
Yes the origin of buddhism in Japan is linked to the first known historical conflict between great clans in VI century, when clan Soga rivalled clans Mononobe and Nakatomi over the influence on the weakening imperial clan. Nakatomi were priestly clan that held a lot of positions and influence over the shinto temples and so Soga invited buddhist monks, which was at first unsuccessful but then they gained upper hand and buddhism too stayed for good*. But as you wrote it was rather aristocratic religion because it was back then rather esoteric and not very appealing to people who lived door to door with their gods and spirits, only much later the Pure Land sects gained a lot of popularity among the people, but shinto never waned.
*btw Nakatomi ultimately won, they purged Sogas, accepted and promoted buddhism themselves when they noticed it can be used and ultimately dominated the japanese politcs for centuries since powerful clan Fujiwara originated from them.