Buddhism in Japan
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2008-07-14T03:02:41Z
Koavf
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/* Silk Road artistic influences */
[[Image:Kamakura Budda Daibutsu front 1885.jpg|thumb|220px|right|The Buddha in [[Kamakura, Kanagawa|Kamakura]] (1252).]]
The history of '''Buddhism in Japan''' can be roughly divided into three periods, namely the [[Nara period]] (up to 784), the [[Heian Period|Heian period]] (794–1185) and the post-Heian period (1185 onwards). Each period saw the introduction of new doctrines and upheavals in existing schools. See ''[[Sōhei]]'' (warrior monks).
In modern times, the main paths of [[Buddhism]] are [[Pure Land Buddhism|Amidist]] (Pure Land) schools, [[Nichiren Buddhism]], [[Shingon Buddhism]] and [[Zen Buddhism]].
==Arrival along the Silk Road==
{{main|Silk Road transmission of Buddhism}}
The arrival of [[Buddhism]] in [[Japan]] is ultimately a consequence of the first contacts between [[China]] and Central Asia which occurred with the opening of the [[Silk Road]] in the [[2nd BCE]], following the travels of [[Zhang Qian]] between [[138 BCE|138]] and [[126 BCE|126 <small>BCE</small>]], which culminated with the official introduction of [[Buddhism in China]] in 67 <small>CE</small>. Historians generally agree that by the middle of the 1st century, the religion had penetrated to areas north of the [[Huai River]]. Buddhism was introduced to Korea by China, and Korea introduced Buddhism to Japan around the 5th century <small>CE</small>.
===Early Chinese accounts===
In [[467|467 <small>CE</small>]], according to the [[History of China|Chinese historic]] treatise [[Liang Shu]], five monks from [[Gandhara]] traveled to the country of [[Fusang]] ([[Chinese language|Chinese]]: 扶桑, Jp: ''Fusō'': "The country of the extreme East" beyond the sea, probably eastern [[Japan]]), where they introduced Buddhism:{{Fact|date=April 2007}}
<blockquote><small>[[Fusang]] is located to the east of [[China]], 20,000 ''[[Li (Chinese unit)|li]]'' (1,500 kilometers) east of the state of ''Da Han'' (itself east of the state of ''Wa'' in modern [[Kyūshū]], [[Japan]]). (...) In former times, the people of Fusang knew nothing of the Buddhist religion, but in the second year of [[Emperor Ming of Liu Song|Da Ming]] of the [[Song Dynasty (420-479)|Song Dynasty]] (467 CE), five monks from Kipin ([[Kabul]] region of [[Gandhara]]) travelled by ship to Fusang. They propagated Buddhist doctrine, circulated scriptures and drawings, and advised the people to relinquish worldly attachments. As a results the customs of Fusang changed (In the original Ch: "扶桑在大漢國東二萬餘里,地在中國之東(...)其俗舊無佛法,宋大明二年,罽賓國嘗有比丘五人游行至其國,流通佛法,經像,教令出家,風 俗遂改", [[Liang Shu]], 7th century CE).</small></blockquote>
The initial period saw the introduction onto Japanese soil of the six great Chinese schools, including the Hua-Yen and Lu, that became respectively the Kegon and Ritsu in Japanese. In terms of geography, the six sects were centered around the capital city of Nara, where great temples such as the Todaiji and Hokkeji were erected. However, the Buddhism of this early period – later known as the Nara period – was not a practical religion, being more the domain of learned priests whose official function was to pray for the peace and prosperity of the state and imperial house. This kind of Buddhism had little to offer the illiterate and uneducated masses, and led to the growth of "people’s priests" who were not ordained and had no formal Buddhist training. Their practice was a combination of Buddhist and Taoist elements, and the incorporation of shamanistic features of the indigenous religion. These figures became immensely popular, and were a source of criticism towards the sophisticated academic and bureaucratic Buddhism of the capital.
==Nara Period==
[[Image:AsukaSeatedBuddha.jpg|thumb|200px|Tile with seated [[Buddharupa|Buddha]], [[Nara Prefecture]], [[Asuka period]], 7th century. [[Tokyo National Museum]].]]
The introduction of [[Buddhism]] to [[Japan]] is securely dated to 552 in ''[[Nihon Shoki]]'', when [[Seong of Baekje]] sent monks from [[Korea]] to [[Nara, Nara|Nara]] to introduce the [[eight doctrinal schools]]. Initial uptake of the new faith was slow, and Buddhism only started to spread some years later when [[Empress Suiko]] openly encouraged the acceptance of Buddhism among all Japanese people. In [[607]], in order to obtain copies of Sutras, an imperial envoy was dispatched to [[Sui]] dynasty [[China]]. As time progressed and the number of Buddhist clergy increased, the offices of ''Sojo'' (archbishop) and ''Sozu'' (bishop) were created. By [[627]] there were 46 Buddhist temples, 816 Buddhist priests, and 569 Buddhist nuns in Japan.
There were traditionally six schools of Buddhism in Nara Japan: ''[[Ritsu]]'' ([[Vinaya]]), ''[[Jojitsu]]'' (Satyasiddhi), ''[[Kusha (Buddhism)|Kusha]]'' ([[Abhidharma]]) ''[[Sanron]]'' ([[Madhyamika]]), ''[[Hosso]]'' ([[Yogacara]]), and ''[[Kegon]]'' ([[Hua-yen]]).<ref>{{cite encyclopedia| last = Powers| first = John| authorlink = John Powers| title = Japanese Buddhism| encyclopedia = A Concise Encyclopedia of Buddhism| volume = 1| pages = 103-107| publisher = Oneworld Publications| location = Oxford| date = 2000}}</ref>However they were not exclusive schools, and temples were apt to have scholars versed in several of the schools. It has been suggested that they can best be thought of as "study groups".
===Ritsu===<!-- This section is linked from [[Nichiren Buddhism]] -->
Founded by [[Dàoxuān]] (道宣, Jp. ''Dosen''), China, c. 650 CE<br>
First Introduction to Japan: [[Ganjin]] (鑑真), 753 CE. The Ritsu school specialized in the [[Vinaya]] (the monastic rules in the [[Tripitaka]]). They used the Dharmagupta version of the vinaya which is known in Japanese as ''Shibunritsu'' 四分律)
===Jojitsu===
The Satyasiddhi school is considered to be an offshoot of the [[Sautrantika]] school, one of the [[Nikaya Buddhism|Nikaya schools]] of [[Indian Buddhism]] (see [[early Buddhist schools]]). They were distinguished by a rejection of the Abhidharma as not being the "word of the Buddha". The name means literally, "Ends with the Sutras", which refers to the traditional order of texts in the [[Tripitaka]]—vinaya, sutra, abhidharma.
[[Image:NaraTempleTiles.JPG|thumb|200px|Temple tiles from Nara, 7th century, [[Tokyo National Museum]].]]
===Kusha===
Introduced into Japan from China during the Nara period (710–784). The school takes its name from its authoritative text, the Abidatsuma-kusha-ron(Sanskrit:Abhidharma-kosa), by the 4th- or 5th-century Indian philosopher [[Vasubandhu]]. The Kusha school is considered to be an offshoot of the Indian [[Sarvastivada]] school.
===Sanron===
Literally: ''Three-Discourse School''; a [[Madhyamika]] school which developed in China based on two discourses by [[Nagarjuna]] and one by [[Aryadeva]]. This school was transmitted to Japan in the 7th century. [[Madhyamika]] is one of the two most important [[Mahayana]] philosophies, and reemphasizes the original Buddhist teachings that phenomena are neither truly existent or absolutely non-existent, but are characterized by impermanence and insubstantially.
===Hosso===
The [[Yogacara]] (瑜伽行派 ''Yugagyouha'') schools are based on early Indian Buddhist thought by masters such as [[Vasubandhu]], and are also known as "consciousness only" since they teach a form of [[idealism]] which posits that all phenomena are phenomena of the mind. The Hosso school was founded by [[Xuanzang]] (玄奘, Jp. ''Genjo''), China, c. 630 CE, and introduced to Japan in 654 CE. The ''Discourse on the Theory of Consciousness-Only'' (Jo yuishikiron 成唯識論) is an important text for the Hosso school.
===Kegon===
Also known by its [[Chinese language|Chinese]] name [[Huayen]] (華厳), the Kegon school was founded by [[Dushun]] (杜順, Jp. ''Dojun''), China, c. [[600]] CE, and introduced to Japan by [[Bodhisena]] in [[736]] CE. The [[Avatamsaka Sutra]] (''Kegonkyo'' 華厳経) is the central text for the Kegon school.
==Heian Period==
The Late Nara period saw the introduction of Esoteric Buddhism (密教, Jp. ''mikkyo'') to Japan from China, by [[Kūkai]] and [[Saichō]], who founded the [[Shingon]] and [[Tendai]] schools. The later Heian period saw the formation of the first truly Japanese school of Buddhism, that of [[Nichiren]].
===Tendai===
Known as [[Tiantai]] (天台) in China, the [[Tendai]] school was founded by [[Zhiyi]] (智顗, Jp ''Chigi'') in China, c. 550 CE. In 804 [[Saichō]] (最澄) traveled to China to study at the Tiantai teachings, at Mount Tiantai. However before his return he also studied, and was initiated into the practice of the Vajrayana - with emphasis on the Mahavairocana Sutra. The primary text of Tiantai is [[Lotus Sutra]] (''Hokkekyo'' 法華経), but when Saichō established his school in Japan he incorporated the study and practice of Vajrayana as well.
===[[Shingon Buddhism|Shingon]]===
[[Kūkai]] traveled to China in 804 as part of the same expedition as Saichō. In the [[Tang Dynasty|T'ang]] capital he studied esoteric Buddhism, [[Sanskrit]] and received initiation from [[Huikuo]]. On returning to Japan Kūkai eventually managed to establish Shingon (真言) as a school in its own right. Kūkai received two lineages of teaching—one based on the [[Mahavairocana Sutra]] (''Dainichikyo'' 大日経), and the other based on the Vajrashekhara.
[[Image:Kinkaku-ji.jpg|thumb|right|265px|[[Kinkakuji]], the Temple of the Golden Pavilion, located in [[Kyoto]].]]
==Kamakura to modern period==
The [[Kamakura period]] saw the introduction of the two schools that had perhaps the greatest impact on the country: (1) the Amidist [[Pure Land]] schools, promulgated by evangelists such as [[Genshin]] and articulated by monks such as [[Hōnen]], which emphasize salvation through faith in [[Amitabha]] and remain the largest Buddhist sect in Japan (and throughout Asia); and (2) the more philosophical [[Zen]] schools, promulgated by monks such as [[Eisai]] and [[Dogen]], which emphasize liberation through the insight of meditation, which were equally rapidly adopted by the upper classes and had a profound impact on [[Japanese culture]].
Japan has seen a sharp decline in Buddhist practice in the 21st century, with roughly 1,000 temples a year closing.<ref>[http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/07/14/asia/14japan.php In Japan, Buddhism, long the religion of funerals, may itself be dying out] by [[Norimitsu Onishi]], ''[[International Herald Tribune]], [[2008]]-[[07]]-[[14]]</ref> Many Japanese are no longer performing Buddhist funeral rites, which were formerly the most important and universal Buddhist practice in the culture.
===Amidist Schools===
====[[Jodo Shu]]====
Founder: [[Huiyuan]] (慧遠, Jp. ''Eon''), China, c. 400 CE<br>
Chinese name: ''Jingtu'' (浄土) "[[Pure Land]]"<br>
First Introduction to Japan: [[Hōnen]] (法然), 1175 CE<br>
Doctrine: ''nembutsu'' (念仏, "prayer to Buddha")<br>
Primary Text: [[Infinite Life Sutra]] (''Muryojukyo'' 無量壽経)
====[[Jodo Shinshu]]====
Founder: [[Shinran]] (親鸞), 1224 CE<br>
Japanese name: 浄土真, "True Pure Land"<br>
Major Influences: [[Jodo]]<br>
Doctrine: ''shintai zokutai'' (真諦俗諦, "Real Truth, Common Truth")<br>
Primary Text: [[Infinite Life Sutra]] (''Muryojukyo'' 無量壽経)
====[[Ji Shu]]====
Founder: [[Ippen]] (一遍), 1270 CE<br>
Japanese name: 時宗 or 時衆, "Time"<br>
Major Influences: [[Jodo]]<br>
Doctrine: ''[[nenbutsu]]'' (念仏, "mindfulness of the Buddha")<br>
Primary Text:
====[[Yudsunenbutsu Shu]]====
Founder: [[Ryōnin]] (良忍), 1117 CE<br>
Japanese name: 融通念仏<br>
Doctrine: ''sokushitsu ōjō'' (速疾往生,)<br>
Primary Text: [[Avatamsaka Sutra]] (''Kegonkyo'' 華厳経)・[[Lotus Sutra]] (''Hokekyo'' 法華経)
===Zen Schools===
Several variants of [[Zen]]'s practice and experiential wisdom (禅宗) were separately brought to Japan. Note that Zen influences are identifiable earlier in Japanese Buddhism, esp. cross-fertilization with Hosso and Kegon, but the independent schools were formed quite late.
====[[Soto]]====
Founders: [[Caoshan]] (曹山, Jp. ''Sosan'') and [[Tozan|Dongshan]] (洞山, Jp. ''Tosan''), China, c. 850<br>
Chinese name: [[Caodong]] (曹洞), named after its founders<br>
First Introduction to Japan: [[Dogen]] (道元), 1227 CE<br>
Major Influences: [[Tendai]], [[Hosso]], [[Kegon]]<br>
Doctrine: [[zazen]] (坐禅, "sitting meditation"), especially ''[[shikantaza]]''<br>
Primary Texts: Transcendental Wisdom Sutras aka [[Prajnaparamita]] Sutras (般若波羅蜜経), incl. [[Heart Sutra]]
[[Image:Buddhist priest.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|Japanese Buddhist priest c.1897]]
====[[Rinzai school|Rinzai]]====
Founder: [[Linji]] (臨済), China, c. 850<br>
Chinese name: [[Linji]] (臨済), named after founder<br>
First Introduction to Japan: [[Eisai]] (栄西), 1191 CE<br>
Major Influences: [[Hosso]], [[Kegon]]<br>
Doctrine: [[zazen]] (坐禅, "sitting meditation"), especially [[koan]] (公案, "public matter") practice<br>
Primary Texts: Transcendental Wisdom Sutras aka [[Prajnaparamita]] Sutras (般若波羅蜜経), incl. [[Heart Sutra]]
====[[Obaku School|Obaku]]====
Founder: [[Ingen]] (隠元), Japan, 1654 CE<br>
Japanese name: 黄檗, named the mountain where the founder had lived in China<br>
Major Influences: [[Rinzai]]<br>
Doctrine: ''kyozen itchi'' (経禅一致, "Unity of Sutras and Zen")<br>
Primary Texts: Transcendental Wisdom Sutras aka [[Prajnaparamita]] Sutras (般若波羅蜜経), incl. [[Heart Sutra]]
====[[Fuke]]====
Founder: [[Puhua]] Chanshi (普化禅師)<br>
First introduction to Japan: [[Kakushin|Shinchin Kakushin]] (心地覚心), 1254 CE<br>
Major Influences: [[Rinzai]]<br>
Abolished: 1871
===Nichiren Buddhism===
The schools of [[Nichiren Buddhism]] trace themselves to the monk [[Nichiren]] (日蓮: "Sun-Lotus") and the proclamation of his teachings in <small>CE</small> 1253. Doctrinally the schools focus on the [[Lotus Sutra]] (妙法蓮華經: ''Myoho Renge Kyō''; abbrev. 法華經: ''Hokkekyō''), but practice centers on the [[mantra]] ''[[Nam Myoho Renge Kyo|Nam(u) Myōhō Renge Kyō]]'' (南無妙法蓮華經). Nichiren Buddhism split into several denominations after the death of Nichiren, typically represented by tradition-oriented schools such as [[Nichiren Shu]] and [[Nichiren Shoshu]] and [[Shinshūkyō|"new religions"]] such as [[Soka Gakkai]], [[Rissho Kosei Kai]], and Reiyukai. See [[Nichiren Buddhism#Major Nichiren Buddhist schools|Nichiren Buddhism]] for a more complete list.
==Silk Road artistic influences==
[[Image:WindGods.JPG|thumb|350px|Iconographical evolution of the Wind God.<br>
Left: Greek wind god from [[Hadda]], 2nd century.<br>
Middle: wind god from [[Kızıl]], [[Tarim Basin]], 7th century.<br>
Right: Japanese wind god [[Fujin]], 17th century.]]
In Japan, Buddhist art started to develop as the country converted to Buddhism in 548 CE. Some tiles from the [[Asuka period]] (shown above), the first period following the conversion of the country to Buddhism, display a strikingly classical style, with ample Hellenistic dress and realistically-rendered body shape characteristic of [[Greco-Buddhist art]].
Other works of art incorporated a variety of [[East Asia]] influences, so that Japanese Buddhist became extremely varied in its expression. Many elements of Greco-Buddhist art remain to this day however, such as the [[Hercules]] inspiration behind the [[Nio]] guardian deities in front of Japanese Buddhist temples, or representations of the Buddha reminiscent of Greek art such as the Buddha in [[Kamakura, Kanagawa|Kamakura]].<ref>"Needless to say, the influence of Greek art on Japanese Buddhist art, via the Buddhist art of Gandhara and India, was already partly known in, for example, the comparison of the wavy drapery of the Buddha images, in what was, originally, a typical Greek style" (Katsumi Tanabe, "Alexander the Great, East-West cultural contacts from Greece to Japan", p19)</ref>
===Deities===
[[Image:Heracles-Shukongoshin.JPG|thumb|350px|Iconographical evolution from the Greek god [[Herakles]] to the Japanese god [[Shukongōshin]]. From left to right:<br>
1) [[Herakles]] (Louvre Museum).<br>
2) [[Herakles]] on coin of [[Greco-Bactrian]] king [[Demetrius I of Bactria|Demetrius I]].<br>
3) [[Vajrapani]], the protector of the Buddha, depicted as Herakles in the Greco-Buddhist art of [[Gandhara]].<br>
4) [[Shukongoshin|Shukongōshin]], manifestation of [[Vajrapani]], as protector deity of Buddhist temples in Japan.]]
Various other Greco-Buddhist artistic influences can be found in the Japanese Buddhist pantheon, the most striking of which being that of the Japanese wind god [[Fujin]]. In consistency with Greek iconography for the wind god [[Boreas]], the Japanese wind god holds above his head with his two hands a draping or "wind bag" in the same general attitude.<ref>"The Japanese wind god images do not belong to a separate tradition apart from that of their Western counter-parts but share the same origins. (...) One of the characteristics of these Far Eastern wind god images is the wind bag held by this god with both hands, the origin of which can be traced back to the shawl or mantle worn by [[Boreas]]/ Oado." (Katsumi Tanabe, "Alexander the Great, East-West cultural contacts from Greece to Japan", p21)</ref> The abundance of hair have been kept in the Japanese rendering, as well as exaggerated facial features.
Another Buddhist deity, named [[Shukongoshin]], one of the wrath-filled protector deities of Buddhist temples in Japan, is also an interesting case of transmission of the image of the famous Greek god [[Herakles]] to the Far-East along the [[Silk Road]]. [[Herakles]] was used in Greco-Buddhist art to represent [[Vajrapani]], the protector of the Buddha, and his representation was then used in China and Japan to depict the protector gods of Buddhist temples.<ref>"The origin of the image of Vajrapani should be explained. This deity is the protector and guide of the Buddha Sakyamuni. His image was modelled after that of Hercules. (...) The Gandharan Vajrapani was transformed in Central Asia and China and afterwards transmitted to Japan, where it exerted stylistic influences on the wrestler-like statues of the Guardian Deities ([[Nio]])." (Katsumi Tanabe, "Alexander the Great, East-West cultural contacts from Greece to Japan", p23)</ref>
===Artistic motifs===
[[Image:NaraVines&Grapes.JPG|thumb|200px|Vine and grape scrolls from Nara, 7th century.]]
The artistic inspiration from Greek floral scrolls is found quite literally in the decoration of Japanese roof tiles, one of the only remaining element of wooden architecture throughout centuries. The clearest one are from 7th century [[Nara, Nara|Nara]] temple building tiles, some of them exactly depicting vines and grapes. These motifs have evolved towards more symbolic representations, but essentially remain to this day in many Japanese traditional buildings.<ref>The transmission of the floral scroll pattern from West to East is presented in the regular exhibition of Ancient Japanese Art, at the [[Tokyo National Museum]].</ref>
==Timeline==
*654: [[Dosho]] introduces the [[Hosso]] ([[Faxiang]]) school to Japan.
*736: [[Bodhisena]] introduces the [[Kegon]] ([[Huayan]]) school to Japan.
*753: [[Ganjin]] introduces the [[Ritsu]] (Lü, [[Vinaya]]) school to Japan.
*807: [[Saichō]] introduces the [[Tendai]] ([[Tientai]]) school to Japan.
*816: [[Kūkai]] founds the [[Shingon Buddhism|Shingon]] school.
*1175: [[Hōnen]] introduces the [[Jodo]] ([[Pure Land]]) school to Japan.
*1191: [[Eisai]] introduces the [[Rinzai]] ([[Linji]]) school to Japan.
*1227: [[Dogen]] introduces the [[Soto]] ([[Caodung]]) school to Japan.
*1253: [[Nichiren]] founds the Nichiren school.
*1282: [[Nichiren Buddhism|Nichiren school]] begins to split into several schools.
*1654: [[Ingen]] introduces the [[Obaku]] ([[Huangbo]]) school to Japan.
==References==
{{Reflist}}
*Asakawa, K., and Henry Cabot Lodge (Ed.). ''Japan From the Japanese Government History''.
*[[Charles Eliot (diplomat)|Eliot, Sir Charles]]. ''Japanese Buddhism''. London: Kegan Paul International, 2005. ISBN 0-7103-0967-8. Reprint of the 1935 original edition.
==See also==
*[[Ichibata Yakushi Kyodan]]
*[[Nara National Museum]]
*[[Religion in Japan]]
*[[Buddhist philosophy]]
*[[Buddhism in China]]
*[[History of Buddhism]]
[[Buddhism]]
*[[Shinbutsu Shugo]]
*''[[Zen at War]]''
{{Asia in topic|Buddhism in}}
{{Buddhism topics}}
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