Buddhism during the Asuka Period (I)

1. 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)

2. 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 China’s capital Chang’an (Xi’an)

3. 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

4. Growth and Adaptation • Growth: (con’t) • 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)

7. Major Buddhist Scriptures and Monks (II) • The most important scriptures and influential monks: • The Lotus Sutra—Zhiyi (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.)

8. 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.

9. 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

10. 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)

11. 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 sutras—apocryphal sutras • Formation of great “Buddhist mountains”

12. 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 Manjusri’s image in every temple; Mt. Wutai received imperial support • Government sponsored the translation of Buddhist scriptures • Emperors received and paid homage to Buddha’s finger bone relic at imperial palace