Buddhism In Thirteenth Century Japan
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ancient history
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date published 18/04/2008
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SummaryIn 794, Emperor Kammu of Japan moved the capital from Nara to Heian, in an attempt to separate the in-fluential Buddhist sects of Nara from the state. This led to the development of Heian Buddhism, which is identified by the idea that everyone can attain Buddhahood. Even with this belief, the Heian school was still separated from the common people by sharing “secret doctrines only...[with] the initiated” and by stating they are protectors of the state, making it the religion of the elite (Lu, ed., Japan A Documentary History 1997: 51, 52). Essentially, esoteric Heian Buddhism was “catering to the whims of the privileged” (Lu, ed., Japan A Documentary History 1997: 117). In contrast, the Kamakara Buddhist schools tried “to bring Buddhist teachings closer to the people” (Lu, ed., Japan A Documentary History 1997: 120) where reading of the Buddhist scriptures weren’t as stressed.
Key words- Saicho, Kukai, Shingon, Tendai, Buddhahood, Kamakura age, Zen Buddhism, Nichiren, Rinzai and Soto.
Key words- Saicho, Kukai, Shingon, Tendai, Buddhahood, Kamakura age, Zen Buddhism, Nichiren, Rinzai and Soto.
Table of Contents- 804, two Japanese monks, Saicho and Kukai, went to China to study Buddhism.
- Although the idea of universal Buddhahood was asserted, the esoteric schools still didn't spread completely.
- Around the beginning of the thirteenth century, Zen Buddhism was brought from China into Japan.
- The Kamakura schools brought a great change to Buddhism.
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