Buddhism during the Asuka Period (I)

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Buddhism during the Asuka Period (I)

• Asuka Period (538-710) The inception of Japanese
  Buddhism
• 538, Korean Kingdom of Paekche dispatched a
  delegation to introduce Buddhism to Japanese
  emperor
• 550, the term Shinto was introduced to
  differentiate the native religion from Buddhism
  and Confucianism
• 593, Empress Suiko reigned, her nephew Prince
  Shotoku served as regent and promoted Buddhism
  built Shitennoji
• 588-596, built Hokoji (Asukadera)

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Buddhism during the Asuka Period (II)

• 605, Shotoku declared Buddhism and Confucianism
  the state religions of Japan
• 607, Shotoku built Horyuji in the in the Asuka
  valley, 645, Shotoku was succeeded by Kotoku
  Tenno, who began the Taiga Reform ten Buddhist
  masters were appointed to be in charge of
  Buddhist education
• 653, Dosho visited China
• 685, Temmu Tenno (637-686) ordered Buddhist
  shrines be built in every house in the
  province
• 710, capital was moved from Asuka to Nara new
  capital was modeled after Chinas capital
  Changan (Xian)

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Chnese Buddhism during the Asuka Period of Japan

• Buddhism had been in China nearly 600 years by
  the time Prince Shotoku made it one of the state
  religions
• This period is considered the period of its
  growth and adaptation in the history of Chinese
  Buddhism
• Growth
• Worked with the ruling authorities
• Built temples and monasteries
• Sculptured images of Buddhas, bodhisattva, and
  arhats
• Translated and disseminated Buddhist scriptures

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Growth and Adaptation

• Growth (cont)
• pilgrimage
• Proselytizing
• Charity work
• Classification of the teachings
• Adaptation
• Undertook matching meanings in the process of
  translation
• Correlated and Integrated Buddhist concepts and
  native Daoist and Confucian views
• Through public debates and discussions
• Through apologetic literature

5
Major Buddhist Schools

• Ten Buddhist schools, divided into two
  categories
• Schools of Beings (Youzong)
• Jushe (Kosa) --(Hinayana)
• The Vinaya School, Disciplinary--(Hinanaya)
• Schools of Non-being (Kongzong)
• Chengshi, Establishment of Truth--(Hinayana)
• The Three-Treatise School, Sanlun--(Mahayana)
• The Consciousness-Only School (Weshi)--(Mahayana)
• The Three-Stage (Sanjie)(Mahayana)
• Tiantai--(Mahayana)
• Huayan--(Mahayana)
• Chan--(Mahayana)
• Pure Land---(Mahayana)

6
Major Buddhist Scriptures and Monks (I)

• Some schools may not have played important roles
  but the scriptures and masters associated with
  them remain important
• The Vinaya in Four Parts (Sifenlü)Daoxuan
  (596-667)
• The Heart Sutra (Xijing)Xuanzang (596 or 602-664)

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Major Buddhist Scriptures and Monks (II)

• The most important scriptures and influential
  monks
• The Lotus SutraZhiyi (538-597), the founder of
  the Tiantai School
• The Flower Garland Sutra (Huayan Sutra)Fazang
  (643-712)
• The Three Pure Land Sutras (The Smaller Sutra on
  Amitayu, The larger Sutra on Amitayu, The Sutra
  on Contemplation of Amitayu)Tanluan (476-542),
  Shandao (d.u.)

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Buddhism during the Nara Period (I)

• Imperial Patronage of Buddhism (710-794)
• 716, Gembo visited China Gyogi began to build
  temples and was credited with building 49
  temples.
• 741, Shomu Tenno decreed that each province was
  to build a seven-storied pagoda and make ten
  copies of the Konkomyo-saishookyo. Also each
  province was to establish one official temple of
  twenty priests to be entitled the
  Konkomyo-shitenno-gokoku no tera, and a temple
  for ten nuns to be called the Hooke-metsuzai no
  tera.
• 736, Chinese vinaya master, Daoxuan (702-760),
  arrived in Japan.

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Nara Buddhism (II)

• 743, Shomu Tenno built Todaiji in Nara. The
  temple is the largest wooden building in the
  world
• 747-751, six sects of Nara Buddhism were
  established Sanron, Jojitsu, Jusha, Hosso,
  Kegon, and Ritsu
• 749, Shomu Tenno visited Todaiji after the
  casting of the Great Buddha was completed,
  declaring himself a servant of the Three
  Treasures
• 753, Tang vinaya master, Jianzhen (Ganjin),
  arrived in Japan after five unsuccessful attempts

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Nara Buddhism (III)

• 754-755, Ganjin constructed the first kaidan in
  Japan at Todaiji.
• 759, Ganjin built Toshodaiji.
• 788, Saicho founded the monastery of Hieizan (Mt.
  Hiei)
• 794, Kammu Tenno moved the capital to Heian-kyo
  (Kyoto)

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Chinese Buddhism during the Nara Japan (I)

• The Period of Sinification
• Continuous growth of Tiantai, Huayan, Chan
  Buddhism, and The Pure Land faith
• Writing of new commentaries on scriptures related
  to these teachings
• Collection of miracle tales related to the
  efficacy of upholding, chanting, reciting
  scriptures, or visualizing a specific Buddha or
  bodhisattva
• Further correlation and fusion of Buddhist and
  native moral codes and causation theories
• Creation of indigenous sutrasapocryphal sutras
• Formation of great Buddhist mountains

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Chinese Buddhism during the Nara Japan (II)

• Cataloging scriptures and commentaries
• Imperial Patronage
• Tantric monks Subhakarasimha, Vajrabodhi, and
  Amoghavajra came to China and were highly
  respected by Tang emperors
• Xuanzong decreed that every prefectures should
  build a Kaiyuan temple
• Imperial promotion of the Bodhisattva Manjusri
  cult by ordering the building of Manjusris image
  in every temple Mt. Wutai received imperial
  support
• Government sponsored the translation of Buddhist
  scriptures
• Emperors received and paid homage to Buddhas
  finger bone relic at imperial palace