There were several early attempts to forge a reconciliation between Shintoism and Buddhism based on mutual respect among their adherents. The evidence for this includes extant sculptures depicting Shinto gods wearing Buddhist vestments. Which one of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?
A: No sculptures that have not survived depicted Shinto gods wearing Buddhist vestments.
B: Shintoism did not originate as a sect of Buddhism.
C: Most sculptures contemporaneous with the sculptures mentioned were intended to have religious significance.
D: The depiction of Shinto gods wearing Buddhist vestments was not intended to represent the triumph of Shintoism over Buddhism.
Choose A, B, C or D as your solution.
D