Zen

Important points to remember! The indigenous religious tradition of Japan is Shinto It is based on worship of divine beings

Important points to remember!  Buddhism first officially reached Japan in 538 C.E.  A Korean King sent ambassadors with a Buddha image, scriptures and monks  Consequence? Much of Chinese civilisation, Confucianism and Taoism arrived in Japan too

Important points to remember!  So…. Buddhism was perhaps first adopted through the appeal of its art and ritual  Merit making was important and particularly appealed to Shotoku (573 – 622) the devoutly religious prince  Consequence? He firmly planted Buddhism as the state religion for the ‘welfare of Japan’.

Important points to remember!  Temples were built, monks acted as scribes and SIX schools of Chinese Buddhism were introduced  This Buddhism became a Buddhism for the elite  Consequence? It attracted wealth, became corrupt and was politically motivated

Important points to remember!  So…. The capital was moved to Kyoto and Japanese Buddhism flourished  The famous Japanese monk Saicho introduced the Tendai (in Chinese T’ien T’ai) school from China in 805  Kukai brought the Shingon school over from China too

What about the Zen Schools?  Zen meditation had been included in Tendai  Ch’an masters had visited from China  That said, Zen never took on as a separate school until the Kamakura period

What about the Zen Schools?  Rinzai (Chinese Lin Chi) style Buddhism was first introduced into Japan by Eisai (1141 – 1215)  He said Zen was the best form of practice; it was adaptable and people liked it so it took hold  A long lasting relationship between the Samurai dynasty and Rinzai developed – a way of ‘skilful means’?

What about the Zen Schools?  But…..another form of Zen was becoming popular too – Soto (Chinese Ts’ao Tung) introduced by Dogen (1200 – 1253)  It was known as ‘farmers Zen’ as it had a more popular appeal  Dogen was regarded as a genius and everyone loved him. He gave Zen a real identity and separated it from Tendai

What about the Zen Schools?  But…..a problem existed for Dogen – if people already had Buddha nature why would they need to try hard at religious practice, rituals and the like to attain Buddhahood  So he decided to emphasise a stricter form of Zen, a simple life for monks epitomised by zazen – sitting meditation  He preferred a few good pupils than lots of people round him!

What about the Zen Schools?  Legacy?  Like Eisai, Dogen left many writings. He criticised the neglect of the sutras and he suggested that Shakyamuni Buddha should be less like the one in Mahayana but rather a return to the historical Buddha  He emphasised faith, impermanence and trust in your teacher. He advanced ‘sitting meditation’ where Buddha nature can gradually unfold

What about other Zen Schools?  NICHIREN  Named after a monk called Nichiren (1222 – 1282)  Fishermans son who favoured the Lotus Sutra above all other scripture as he said it ‘expresses the essence of Buddhism’  He saw himself as a successor to Tendai and as the incarnation of a bodhisattva to protect the teachings in the mappo age.

What about other Zen Schools?  NICHIREN  In 1223 he started a campaign to convert all to the ways of the Lotus Sutra hence the chant ‘Namu myo - ho renge - kyo  He said all other Zen schools would ruin Japan and Pure Land schools were worse as they worshipped the imaginary Amida and Shingo worshipped Vairocana

What about other Zen Schools?  NICHIREN  Why is Nichiren an unusual Buddhist character?  He was certain that the reciting of the nembutsu would lead to hell. Uncharacteristic if Buddhists, he was nearly executed for this and was banished from Japan twice!! He was fiercely evangelistic and charismatic and many loved him for it!

What about later on?  Middle Ages  Rinzai was very popular. During times of trouble temples were havens of peace, culture, education, art and painting, calligraphy, sculpture, printing, gardening. Medicine, architecture, literature and theatre developed.

What about later on?  Middle Ages  Jodo -shu developed the idea that Pure Land is everywhere and with Jodo – Shin – shu the idea of good moral behaviour was irrelevant to those with faith in Amida, calligraphy, sculpture, printing, gardening. Medicine, architecture, literature and theatre developed.

What about later on?  After the Middle Ages  Shinto began to establish itself again and Buddhism has took a bit of a back seat ever since though still has some influences in certain areas of Japan since Japan has ‘opened its doors to Western influence again.