noun
rejection of Buddhism; expulsion of Buddhism
Historical term referring to movements or policies aimed at suppressing or eliminating Buddhism, especially in the context of the Meiji period's haibutsu kishaku.
明治時代の廃仏毀釈は、仏教に大きな打撃を与えた。
The anti-Buddhist movement of the Meiji period dealt a severe blow to Buddhism.
A more specific term for the violent destruction of Buddhist temples and artifacts during the Meiji period; 廃仏 is a broader concept of rejecting Buddhism.
Compound of 廃 (hai, 'abolish') and 仏 (butsu, 'Buddha/Buddhism'). The term emerged in the context of anti-Buddhist thought in Japan, particularly during the Meiji era.