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Chan (Zen) Buddhism . Jeffrey L. Richey, Ph.D. REL 260 Buddhism Berea College Spring 2004. BUDDHISM COMES TO EAST ASIA. “Silk Road” merchants and missionaries transmit Buddhism to China by 65 CE
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Chan (Zen) Buddhism Jeffrey L. Richey, Ph.D. REL 260 Buddhism Berea College Spring 2004
BUDDHISM COMES TO EAST ASIA • “Silk Road” merchants and missionaries transmit Buddhism to China by 65 CE • As Han 漢 dynasty (202 BCE-220 CE) declines, Chinese elites turn away from Confucianism to Daoism and Buddhism, often combining elements of each in syncretistic mix • By Tang 唐 dynasty (618-907 CE), Buddhism reaches zenith of its popularity in China • From China, Buddhism spreads to Vietnam, Korea, and Japan
CHALLENGES TO BUDDHISM IN CHINA • Geographic: difficulty of India-China travel • Linguistic: translation of foreign texts and concepts • Political: conflicts between rulers and sangha; separation between north and south during “Period of Disunity” • Religious: competition with and/or dilution by Confucianism and Daoism • Social: traditional Chinese distaste for foreign ways (e.g., celibacy, monasticism, Sanskrit terminology, karma theory)
Buddhists in Tang China develop theory of “Last Days of the Dharma” (Chinese mofa, Japanese mappo 末法) – view of present as degenerate era in which former methods of teaching do not suffice for enlightenment “Desperate times call for desperate measures” – tendency to focus solely on one text or practice Chan禪 = Sanskrit dhyana (“meditation” – Japanese: Zen) Chan goal: Chinese jianxing, Japanese kensho見性 (seeing one’s true nature) – sudden enlightenment Based on Theravāda concept of individual effort (Chinese zili, Japanese jiriki自力) and Tantric meditation techniques Enlightenment verified by “mind-to-mind” transmission from master to disciple, beginning with Bodhidharma (Indian, 400s CE?) ROOTS OF EAST ASIAN BUDDHISM
SOURCES OF JAPANESE BUDDHISM • Buddhism (Tantric, Chan, Pure Land) introduced during 500s CE by Korean immigrants, missionaries, and diplomats • Functions of Buddhism in early Japan: • Instrument of diplomacy • Vehicle of civilization • Symbol of political power • Shintô-Buddhist syncretism: • theory ofhonji suijaku本地重跡 (original reality, manifest traces) • Buddhas and bodhisattvas are honji, kami are suijaku
DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHAN/ZEN TRADITION • Degeneration of dharma justifies rejection of devotion and scripturesin favor of meditation as sole or primary method of attaining enlightenment • Reality must be seen as it is (nondualistic, spontaneous, “empty”) • Two major sects: • Chinese Linji, Japanese Rinzai臨濟 – uses riddles (Chinese gong’an, Japanese koan公案), verbal abuse and meditation • Chinese Caotong, Japanese Soto曹狪 -- uses meditation only
LEGACIES OF THE CHAN/ZEN TRADITION • Cements syncretism of indigenous and imported elements (Buddhism/Daoism, Buddhism/Shintô) in East Asian Buddhism • Hugely influential on East Asian cultures: • Calligraphy • Cuisine (e.g., tea) • Drama (especially in Japan) • Martial arts (e.g., fencing) • Painting • Philosophy • Poetry • Ritual (e.g., tea ceremony)