Starting in India, Buddhism’s reach has extended across the world. China and Japan were both strongly influenced by the influx of Buddhism. Social, political, and economic changes were brought about due to the influence of Buddhism and Buddhist clergy on the people of China and Japan.In China the Buddhist clergy fought for favor in the royal court. In Japan the different Buddhist sects played tug-of-war between themselves for control of bureaucratic power.cross China Buddhism became a part of people’s daily lives and as a result began to shape China in many ways. The effect of Buddhism on the Chinese economy was one of its most profound influences in China. The economy was changed in both positive and negative ways by many different aspects of Buddhism’s societal role.