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Taoism and Buddhism greatly influenced one another in China, and there was a lot of blending and mixing of beliefs and practices between the two and with Confucianism, too. Buddhism was seen almost as another form of Taoism.
BTW, Muhammed fulfilled none of the characteristics of Maitreya (nor did Jesus, by the way) - most importantly, the drama has not been forgotten, the teachings of Gautama Buddha have not disappeared, and the relics of the Buddha have not been cremated. Muhammed didn't achieve anything like Bodhi in 7 days, as it was predicted Maitreya will. In addition, Islam and its beliefs are completely antithetical to the beliefs and practices of Buddhism. It's a silly old claim - one that many others have made, too.
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