Acceptance by the elite and the splintering of Buddhism into many different sects in China -- combined with syncretism with local deities, proved to be effective.
However, its outreach, even in ideological climates which might seem less-than-harmonious suggests that Buddhism stands apart from the insistence upon 'purity' of dogma characteristic of so many Western religions, which demand that the adherent choose between that religion and all others. There is no 'jealous God' in Buddhism, and since the ultimate goal is liberation from samsara, even people who unwittingly transmit the practice are approved of: "So if you go to a stress reduction clinic and somebody is using Vipassana technics to reduce stress or to reduce pain, that doesn't need to be 'Buddhist' any more than if you discovered a medicine in a Christian hospital, the use of that medication would necessarily be Christian" (Garfield 2010). Because of this practical mindset, Buddhism has proven itself to be capable of change and yet also very durable and stable as a religious philosophy.
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Prideaux, E. 2007. Japan's Shinto-Buddhist religious medley. The Japan Times. Available:
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