Why did the Fujiwara family support Buddhist institutions and monasteries?

The Fujiwara family supported and aligned themselves with the Buddhist hierarchy primarily as a strategic political maneuver to consolidate and increase their influence within the Japanese imperial government. By forming these alliances, the family could effectively manipulate the political landscape.1

Specifically, the Fujiwara utilized the precedent of pious emperors who shaved their heads and retired to monasteries to persuade independent-minded emperors to abdicate and withdraw from worldly affairs. This practice allowed the Fujiwara to place child emperors on the throne and act as regents, thereby maintaining de facto control over the government. Additionally, the family used monasteries as a tool to neutralize political rivals by providing them with sinecures in religious institutions, effectively removing them from secular political life.1

While the Fujiwara recognized the political utility of Buddhism, they were also wary of the influence of the clergy. At times, they acted to curb the power of monks who interfered in secular affairs, fearing that priestly domination threatened the stability of the nation.2