Japanese religious tradition combining folk beliefs with Shint 014D; , Buddhism , and elements of Daoism .
The practitioner engages in spiritual and physical disciplines to attain power against evil spirits. Shugen-d 014D; flourished in the Heian period and allied itself with the esoteric schools of Buddhism, Tendai (Chinese Tiantai ), and Shingon . Many Buddhist priests belonging to esoteric traditions regularly developed Shugen-d 014D; techniques, and Shugen-d 014D; practitioners often served as Shint 014D; priests. The government abolished Shugen-d 014D; in 1872. After 1945, with the establishment of religious freedom, some Shugen-d 014D; groups attempted a revival, but the tradition's membership and influence remain greatly diminished.