<prompt> Translate the following text to EnglishSoka walikuwa wamepitisha Ubudha kama upinzani wa kifalme kwa dini ya asili ya Shinto, pamoja na desturi mpya za Kichina, ili kudhoofisha ushawishi wa wapinzani wao wa kihafidhina zaidi.  <response>: The Sogas had promoted Buddhism as an imperially sanctioned counterweight to the native Shinto religion, along with the new Chinese customs, to weaken the influence of their more conservative rivals. 