Abstract: The relationship between Shinto and Buddhism is crucial for a deep understanding of the history of religion and the history of religious thought in Japan. From the perspective of “mutual recognition of aliens” and “mutual construction of consubstantiality”, this paper seeks to systematically analyze the relationship between Shinto and Buddhism before modern Japan so as to reveal the important role exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations have played during the development of civilization or cultural advancement.

Key words: civilization and mutual learning, relationship between Shinto and Buddhism, mutual recogition of aliens, mutual construction of consubstantiality