user693: The great "religions of peace" like Christianity and Islam had some quite turbulent events that seem in major conflict with their primary commandments, but still in the name of faith - even "within" (like bloody wars between catholics and protestants).
Buddhism shuns all violence, but I'm curious how true to this philosophy did the believers remained through ages. Was there ever any major conflict involving violent confrontation, in which Buddhists would fight (violently, not passively) in defense of their religion? Are there any "shameful moments of Buddhism" like there are so many in other major religions?

user408: It's not a major violent conflict like a war or something, but Buddhist monks have been involved in violent anti-muslim protests in Myanmar and in Sri Lanka in the last few years. An organization called Bodu Bala Sena, which is Sinhalese for 'Buddhist Power Force', has been stirring up and supporting these protests. The organisation was founded by two Buddhist monks with the goal to:

support militancy against minorities to preserve the dominance of the Buddhist majority
  (source The Economist)

However, since they left their monastery it is questionable if the founders can still be seen as Buddhist monks.
More info also in this recent Time newsarticle.

user760: Zen at War describes the role of Zen in the Japanese militarism in the 19th and the 20th century. A quote from Harada Daiun Sogaku (after Wikipedia):

[If ordered to] march: tramp, tramp, or shoot: bang, bang. This is the manifestation of the highest Wisdom [of Enlightenment]. The unity of Zen and war of which I speak extends to the farthest reaches of the holy war [now under way].


user697: Suggested reading: Buddhist Warfare - Michael K. Jerryson and Mark Juergenmeyer. A view of the contents:

Making Merit through warfare according to the Arya-Bodhisaattva-upayavisaya-nirdesa-sutra
Sacralized Warfare: The Fifth Dalai Lama and the discourse on religious violence.
Soldier-zen in wartime Japan
Buddhists in China during the Korean War
Onward Buddhist Soldiers: Preaching to the Sri Lankan Army
Militarizing Buddhism: Violence in Southern Thailand


693: <p>The great "religions of peace" like Christianity and Islam had some quite turbulent events that seem in major conflict with their primary commandments, but still in the name of faith - even "within" (like bloody wars between catholics and protestants).</p>

<p>Buddhism shuns all violence, but I'm curious how true to this philosophy did the believers remained through ages. Was there ever any major conflict involving violent confrontation, in which Buddhists would fight (violently, not passively) in defense of their religion? Are there any "shameful moments of Buddhism" like there are so many in other major religions?</p>
 408: <p>It's not a major violent conflict like a war or something, but Buddhist monks have been involved in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_Burma_anti-Muslim_riots" rel="nofollow">violent anti-muslim protests in Myanmar</a> and in Sri Lanka in the last few years. An organization called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodu_Bala_Sena" rel="nofollow">Bodu Bala Sena</a>, which is Sinhalese for 'Buddhist Power Force', has been stirring up and supporting these protests. The organisation was founded by two Buddhist monks with the goal to:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>support militancy against minorities to preserve the dominance of the Buddhist majority
  (source <a href="http://www.economist.com/news/asia/21604601-another-minority-under-threat-buddhist-power" rel="nofollow">The Economist</a>)</p>
</blockquote>

<p>However, since they left their monastery it is questionable if the founders can still be seen as Buddhist monks.
More info also in <a href="http://time.com/3090990/how-an-extremist-buddhist-network-is-sowing-hatred-across-asia/" rel="nofollow">this recent Time newsarticle</a>.</p>
 760: <p><a href="http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/0742539261" rel="nofollow">Zen at War</a> describes the role of Zen in the Japanese militarism in the 19th and the 20th century. A quote from Harada Daiun Sogaku (after <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen_at_War" rel="nofollow">Wikipedia</a>):</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>[If ordered to] march: tramp, tramp, or shoot: bang, bang. This is the manifestation of the highest Wisdom [of Enlightenment]. The unity of Zen and war of which I speak extends to the farthest reaches of the holy war [now under way].</p>
</blockquote>
 697: <p>Suggested reading: Buddhist Warfare - Michael K. Jerryson and Mark Juergenmeyer. A view of the contents:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>Making Merit through warfare according to the Arya-Bodhisaattva-upayavisaya-nirdesa-sutra</p></li>
<li><p>Sacralized Warfare: The Fifth Dalai Lama and the discourse on religious violence.</p></li>
<li><p>Soldier-zen in wartime Japan</p></li>
<li><p>Buddhists in China during the Korean War</p></li>
<li><p>Onward Buddhist Soldiers: Preaching to the Sri Lankan Army</p></li>
<li><p>Militarizing Buddhism: Violence in Southern Thailand</p></li>
</ul>
