Difference between revisions of "Japanese Esoteric Buddhism"
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| − | During the Tang Dynasty in China, when esoteric Buddhist practices reached their peak, Japan was actively importing Buddhism, its texts and teachings, by sending monks on risky missions across the sea to stay in China for two years or more. Depending on where the monk stayed and trained, they may have brought back esoteric Buddhist material and training back to Japan. | + | During the {{Wiki|Tang Dynasty}} in [[China]], when [[esoteric]] [[Buddhist practices]] reached their peak, [[Japan]] was actively importing [[Buddhism]], its texts and teachings, by sending [[monks]] on risky missions across the sea to stay in [[China]] for two years or more. Depending on where the [[monk]] stayed and trained, they may have brought back [[esoteric]] [[Buddhist]] material and training back to [[Japan]]. |
| − | In 804, monk Saicho came back from China with teachings from the Tiantai sect, but was also trained in esoteric lineages. When he later founded the Japanese Tendai sect, esoteric practices were integrated with the Tendai teachings, but Tendai is not an exclusively esoteric sect. Subsequent disciples of Saicho also returned from China in later years with further esoteric training, which helped to flesh out the lineage in Japan. | + | In 804, [[monk]] [[Saicho]] came back from [[China]] with teachings from the [[Tiantai]] [[sect]], but was also trained in [[esoteric]] [[lineages]]. When he later founded the [[Japanese]] [[Tendai sect]], [[esoteric]] practices were integrated with the [[Tendai]] teachings, but [[Tendai]] is not an exclusively [[esoteric]] [[sect]]. Subsequent [[disciples]] of [[Saicho]] also returned from [[China]] in later years with further [[esoteric]] training, which helped to flesh out the [[lineage]] in [[Japan]]. |
| − | On the same mission in 804, Emperor Kammu also sent monk Kūkai to the Tang Dynasty capital at Chang'an (present-day Xi'an). Kūkai absorbed the Vajrayana thinking from eminent Indian and Chinese Vajrayana teachers at the time, and synthesized a version of which he took back with him to Japan, where he founded the Shingon school of Buddhism, a school which continues to this day. Unlike Tendai, Shingon is a purely esoteric sect. | + | On the same [[mission]] in 804, {{Wiki|Emperor Kammu}} also sent [[monk]] [[Kūkai]] to the {{Wiki|Tang Dynasty}} capital at [[Chang'an]] (present-day {{Wiki|Xi'an}}). [[Kūkai]] absorbed the [[Vajrayana]] [[thinking]] from {{Wiki|eminent}} [[Indian]] and {{Wiki|Chinese}} [[Vajrayana]] [[teachers]] at the [[time]], and synthesized a version of which he took back with him to [[Japan]], where he founded the [[Shingon school]] of [[Buddhism]], a school which continues to this day. Unlike [[Tendai]], [[Shingon]] is a purely [[esoteric]] [[sect]]. |
{{W}} | {{W}} | ||
[[Category:Buddhist Terms]] | [[Category:Buddhist Terms]] | ||
[[Category:Japanese Buddhism]] | [[Category:Japanese Buddhism]] | ||
Latest revision as of 13:06, 5 July 2014
During the Tang Dynasty in China, when esoteric Buddhist practices reached their peak, Japan was actively importing Buddhism, its texts and teachings, by sending monks on risky missions across the sea to stay in China for two years or more. Depending on where the monk stayed and trained, they may have brought back esoteric Buddhist material and training back to Japan.
In 804, monk Saicho came back from China with teachings from the Tiantai sect, but was also trained in esoteric lineages. When he later founded the Japanese Tendai sect, esoteric practices were integrated with the Tendai teachings, but Tendai is not an exclusively esoteric sect. Subsequent disciples of Saicho also returned from China in later years with further esoteric training, which helped to flesh out the lineage in Japan.
On the same mission in 804, Emperor Kammu also sent monk Kūkai to the Tang Dynasty capital at Chang'an (present-day Xi'an). Kūkai absorbed the Vajrayana thinking from eminent Indian and Chinese Vajrayana teachers at the time, and synthesized a version of which he took back with him to Japan, where he founded the Shingon school of Buddhism, a school which continues to this day. Unlike Tendai, Shingon is a purely esoteric sect.
