Buddhism in Japan

1
Buddhism in Japan
2
Japan Overview

• Buddhism from Korea/China by 6th century
• Again, local spirit cults important the kami -
  Buddhas and bodhisattvas the highest kami
• Prince Shotoku (7th century) and the
  all-embracing Lotus Sutra a need for unity
• Unifying force and state religion for 6 centuries
  and dominated Confucianism up to Tokugawa
  Shogunate (17th century)

3
Artistic Style

• Aesthetics of the tea ceremony, rock gardens,
  bonsai sculpture
• Shingon/Vajrayana (Ninja/Ninjitsu) Sumptuous
• Tendai/Tien-tai and Zen/Chan (samurai/bushido)
  Sparse
• Doctrine of Original Awakening of Hua-yen now
  applied to nature
• Equation of Emperor with Maha Vairocana a.k.a
  Dainichi

4
Japan Nara Period 552-794 Prince Shotoku and
the Korean Connection

• King Syongmyong of Paekche (552) sent statues
  and sturas to Japanese court
• Soga clan domination of Buddhist Korean clan and
  Prince Shotoku (572-622), founder of Japanese
  Buddhism
• Studies with Korean Hye-cha, imports artisans
  etc. to Japan from Korea
• Turns face to China diminution of Korean
  connections

5
Japan Nara Period 552-794 the China connection

• Kusha (Abhidharmakosha), Sanron
  (Sanlun/Madhyamaka), Jojitsu (satyasiddhi )
  curriculum studies mostly
• Hosso (Fa-hsiang, Yogacara) large sect
• Emergence of the Fujiwara clan in Heian Period
  paves way for direct Chinese influence
• Buddhism limited mostly to court
• Sport hunting stopped, vegetarianism

6
Japan Heian Period (804-1185)

• Capitol moved to Kyoto
• Mt. Hiei Saicho a.k.a Dengyo Daishi 767-822)
• Sought true Vinaya
• Sent to China studied Chen-yen stayed with
  ekayana and Tien-tai school
• Unifying force in Japan
• Replace Buddha Dharma Sangha with Amitabha, Lotus
  Sutra, Kuan-yin -Jap. Kannon

7
Japan Heian Period (804-1185)

• Kukai a.k.a Kobo Daishi 774-835
• Chen-yen Shingon Direct teaching of
  Dharmakaya Buddha beyond words of sutras
• Integration of micro-, macro- and mesocosm with
  Dainichi
• Ten stages culminating in merger with Dharmakaya
  Dainichi from Goat, child and fearless, to
  Hinayana on up

8
Beginnings of tantraan etymological review

• The union of the Sun and Moon, the Diamond and
  the Lotus, the Male and the Female Wisdom and
  Compassion  - from the Right-handed Shingon
  Japanese side

9
Dainichi Maha Vairocana the Great Sun Buddha
10
Mantra, Mandala, Mudra - the three bodily actions

• 1. Mantra Ritual chants to motivate the mind to
  focus on awakening
• 2. Mandala Ritual images to concentrate the mind
  
• 3. Mudra Ritual hand gestures symbolizing
  aspects of Buddhist doctrine

11
Speech, Mind, Body the corresponding "three
mysteries"

• 1. Mantra The mystery of speech This indicates
  the microcosmic, resonating aspect of reality
• 2. Mandala The mystery of mind This points to
  the mesocosmic level of reality, we experience
  the world in our minds
• 3. Mudra The mystery of body This reveals the
  macrocosm, the embodied aspect of the universe

12
Japan Heian Period (804-1185)

• Kuya 903-972 Emergence of Jodo or Happiness
  (Pure Land) Buddhism
• Degenerate age of Mappo
• No one could be saved by themselves
• By end of Heian (Shinran), separate sect

13
Japan Kamakura Period (1185-1333) Dogen

• Triumph of the warriors and the bakufu system
  (shogunate)
• Capital moved to Kamakura
• Eisai (1141-1215) Brought Chan from Lin-chi
  tradition to Japan
• Dogen Kigen (1200-1253) travels to China lead
  to dropping away of body and mind.
• Think No-thinking founds Soto School
• Shikantaza questioning thought, not just
  seeking flow
• Demolishes disputes about transmission inside or
  outside the scriptures quotes from Hinayana
  texts

14
Japan Kamakura Period (1185-1333) Shinran

• Jodo Shin Shu Sukhavati or Happiness Buddhism
• Dark age of Mappo no one can save self, unlike
  in Golden Age of Buddhist India
• Shinran (1173-1262) left Tendai school for
  exile with Jodo sectarians
• Marries Kannon and lives a lay life
• Jiriki and tariki
• only one nembutsu necessary
• Evil ones closer to Amida
• Eerily echoes Martin Luther no salvation
  through works or merit, only grace
• Muenzer and Zenran going too far

15
(No Transcript)
16
(No Transcript)
17
Japan Kamakura Period (1185-1333) Nichiren

• Nichiren (1222-1282) Saicho was right
• But wrong to include other doctrines
• The Evil Happiness Buddhists no more nien-fo,
  now daimoku

18
Japan Muromachi Period (1336-1603)

• Rinzai Zen and the emergence of the Samurai
  militias of other schools slaughtered
• Tendai and Shingon wane
• Zen influence pervades the culture tea
  ceremony, No drama nirvana in samsara
• Peasants with pitchforks suppression of
  Buddhist militia by Nobunaga
• Hideyoshi suppression of Christians
• Tokugawa 1542-1616 capital at Tokyo

19
Japan Tokugawa Period (1603-1868)

• Confucian-based ideology due to Buddhist disunity
  (viz. militias)
• Nationalism anti-Buddhist, pro-Shinto
• Basho haiku
• Bushido Confucian/Zen hybrid approach of the
  Samurai

20
Meiji and Modernization1868-1945

• Meiji Period modernization and the New Rinzai
  anti-Buddhist, pro-Shinto peak
• Samurai system dismantled
• Orientals not effeminate
• Suzuki
• Olcott-san

21
Japan Post-war period (1945- )

• Sokagakkai
• shakubuku
• Samurai turn to business
• Mitsubishi
• Matsushita
• Aum Shinri-kyo
• Nishitani