A Brief History of Japanese Buddhism JonathanS.WattsKeioUniversityTokyo,Japan

BeginningsofJapaneseBuddhism²  Introducedin552fromKoreabytheleaderofthePaekcheKingdomasapartofapoliticalalliance.

²  PrinceShotoku(574-622),regenttotheimperialthrone,establishedthe17ArticleConstitution,introducedandassimilatedanumberofkeyBuddhistideas:1)theconceptofuniversallawfromDharma;2)Buddhismaspracticalandforalltypesofpeople;3)respectingharmony(和 wa);4)repayingthebeneRitsfromparentsandothersentientbeings(報恩 ho-on)

²  PrinceShotokuisanunusualandextremelyimportanthistorical7igureforattemptingto introduceuniversalisticideastotheinsularconceptofsocietyasclanortribeunderadivineemperor.

²  ShotokucreatedRirstembassywithChinain607whichbegancontactwithChineseBuddhism.

BeginningsofJapaneseBuddhism²  BuddhismhadtoadapttoJapan’sparticularspiritualtendencies,likeprayer,ritual,andexorcismforthisworldlybeneRit(現世利益 genseiriyaku)

²  NaraPeriod(646-794)establishedBuddhismasastatereligionunder6principleschoolswhichprayedforthewellbeingofthenation.Ordinationofpriestsandnunswasstrictlycontrolledbygovernment.

²  AlargenumberofBuddhistnunsintheNaraeraandnewurbanBuddhistsectsinthe1900swithfemaleleaderswhowerefaithhealersfromancientfemaleshamanictradition

²  IdealisticschoolsofIndian(Ritsu律basedonmonasticprecepts)andChineseBuddhism(Sanron三論&Hosso法相)quicklydeclineafterNaraperiod.

HeianBuddhism(794-1185)²  Establishmentoftwomajordenominationswhichbecamedominant:Shingon真言(esoteric)byKukaiandTendai天台(exoteric)bySaicho.

²  EsotericBuddhismmeantritualsandprayersfor“worldlybeneRit”(現世利益 genseiryaku)andavoidingcalamities.

²  ExotericBuddhismfocusedonstudyanddevelopedthekeyJapaneseBuddhistideaof“innateenlightenment”(本覚 hongaku)basedontheideaof“buddhanature”

HeianBuddhism(794-1185)²  Saicho,thefounderofTendai,rejectedthecore227monasticpreceptsinfavorofthelessformal58“perfectandimmediateprecepts”(円頓戒)pavingthewayforthealcohol,meateating,andmarriageformostJapaneseprieststoday.

²  Thesedenominationsweresupportedbythearistocracy,butbecamethemselvesmajorcentersofpoliticalpowerwithbandsofmercenarysoldierpriests(僧兵 sohei）.

²  GrassrootsdevelopmentofPureLandmendicants(聖 hijiri)whospreadBuddhismtothepeople.

KamakuraBuddhism(1185-1333)&ItsFormativeInRluence

²  EstablishmentofBuddhismforthemassesthroughthereformationmovementsofHonen&Shinran(PureLand浄土 Jodo),Eisai(臨済禅 RinzaiZen）&Dogen(曹洞禅 SotoZen),andNichiren(法華経 LotusSutra)

²  Eachoftheteachersstressedasingle,simplepracticeavailabletoallpeoplewhichhadthesameorstrongerpowerforsalvationthanamonk’sasceticpractice.e.g.PureLand-chantingofAmidaBuddha’sname(念仏),Zen-seatedmeditation(座禅)Nichiren-chantingnameofLotusSutra(題目)

KamakuraBuddhismfurtherdevelopedbasicJapaneseinstinctstowardsno

separationbetweensacredandprofane²  PureLandteachers,especiallyShinran,gavefurtherdoctrinalbasisformonkstoabandonmonasticlifestyle(celibacy,alcoholandmeat,robesandshavenhead).

²  ZenmeditationandpracticeinRluencedRinearts(teaceremony,calligraphy,Rlowerarrangement)andmartialarts(archery,swordsmanship,samuraiandmilitaryculture)

²  LotusSutraemphasized“thisworldlybeneRits”andbecamemostpopularformamongmerchantsandofmodernBuddhismintheindustrial,materialage

KamakuraBuddhismrepresentsacounterethnic-national

andpro-universalistictrend²  PureLandwasanti-establishmentspiritually,sociallyandpolitically;theworstpersoncangainsalvation;asceticswalkedamongthepeoplenotsociallywithdrawn;faithinAmidatranscendedRilialpietyandfaithinEmperor.

²  Nichirenconfrontedpoliticalauthorities;promotedtheuniversalnatureofLotusSutraabovestateandimperiallaw

²  DogenrepudiatedtheesotericritualismwhichprotectedthenationandsoughtmaterialbeneRit;madeenlightenedmindapracticalmatter

WarringStatesPeriod(mid1400sto1600)

²  NewKamakuraBuddhistmovementsgrewintomajorsocialinstitutionswhichrivaledthesizeandpoweroftheShingonandTendaidenominations.

²  Shinran’sTruePureLanddenominationlaunchedmajorpeasantrebellions(ikkoikki一向一揆 )againstthepowerfulwarlords.NichirenbasedLotusrebellions(hokkeikki法華一揆)amongthemerchantclassesalsoformed.TheZensectswerethoroughlyinRluencedbythewarriorclass.à arareinstanceofJapaneseusing(Buddhist)ideologyforactivesocialchange

²  WarlordOdaNobunagaburnttheTendaiheadquarterstothegroundanddestroyedtheikkoikkimovement.

TokugawaEra(1603-1868)²  TokugawaIeyasuestablishedhisdynasty,uniRiedJapan,andcreatedasystemtocontrolallBuddhistgroups.

²  Thetempleparishionersystem(檀家制度 dankaseido）wasameanstousetemplestomonitorandcontrolthepopulationthroughenforcedmembershiptoalocaltempleandtopreventthespreadofChristianity.ThenumberofBuddhisttemplesmorethandoubled.TheBuddhisttemplebecameRirmlyestablishedasthecenterofthecommunity.

²  ConfucianinRluencewasstrongandhelpedcreateanationalideology/theologyoffamilyancestorworshipwhichextendeduptovenerationofthestateandemperor.

²  Buddhisttemplesbecamethecenterforthisancestorworshipand“FuneralBuddhism”(葬式仏教 soshikibukkyo)wasborn.

MeijiEra(1868-1912)²  EndofTokugawaDynastymeantBuddhismwasremovedasastatereligionandbrieRlypersecuted.Monkswerelegallyallowedtoabandonthemonasticlifestyle,unprecedentedinAsianBuddhisthistory

²  Inordertosurvive,allmajordenominationssoughttoprovetheirusefulnessbysupportingnationaldevelopmentandtheofRicialnationalideologybasedonworshipoftheemperor.

²  TherewerevariousreformmovementswithinandwithoutBuddhismtoreturntooriginalBuddhism,tobecomemorescientiRicandmodern,andtobemorepracticaltodailylife.

²  Therewereafewradical,anti-nationalistpriestswhosupportedsocialistmovementsforexploitedpeople,likeBurakuminandKoreans.UchiyamaGudo(SotoZen),TakagiKemmyo(JodoShin),SenoGiro(Nichiren)

²  Thesemovementseventuallyweresweptawaybyimperialandnationalistictrendsinwhichallmajordenominations,includingChristianchurches,supportedthePaciRicWar.

JapaneseBuddhistSupportforthePaciRicWar²  Priestsweredraftedintothemilitaryascommonfootsoldiersandnotjustaschaplains

²  EastAsianBuddhistteachingof“repayingbeneRits”(報恩 ho-on)toparentsandallsentientbeingswasshiftedtoemperorandstate.

²  ZenteachingswerefusedwithBushido(武士道)toteachgivingupone’slifeinbattle;thereis“no-self”thatkills;andmeditativefearlessnessinthefaceofdeath.

²  DoctrineofTwoTruths(眞俗二諦 shinzokunitai),keytoPureLandBuddhists,wastwistedtosaythattheabsolutetruthoftheBuddhawasexpressedintherelativetruthoftheEmperorinthisworld.

²  NichirenBuddhistsdeveloped“Nichiren-ism”whichraisedthelawoftheemperortotheleveloftheuniversallawoftheLotusSutra.

PostWarEra²  Riseofnew,non-monasticBuddhistdenominations;mostlyLotusSutrabasedandfocusedonthisworldlybeneRit;fulRilledneedsofnewmassurbanpopulation

²  SokaGakkai,controversialfortheirnationalconversioncampaign,gotinvolvedinpartypoliticswithKomeito公明党

²  TraditionalBuddhistgroupsnolongercenterofcommunityinurban,secularsociety

²  Priestsandtemplesbecameinwardlookingandsociallypassive²  “FuneralBuddhism”(葬式仏教 SoshikiBukkyo)-focusonperformingritualsatfuneralsandmemorialservices–gavetheimageofpriestsandtemplesbeingwealthyandlazy.

²  However,witheconomicdownturn,theyarealsoexperiencingRinancialcrisis,potentiallossoftax-freestatus,anddecliningmembership.

SociallyEngagedBuddhisminJapan²  Early1980s,priestsrespondtothissituationbycreatingBuddhistNGOs(NGO=“internationalcooperationactivities”),especiallyinresponsetoIndochinahumanitariancrisis

²  ActivitieshavebeenmostlyemergencyaidandRinancialresourcesformaterialdevelopmentinIndochina,SouthAsia,Africa,andMiddleEast

²  Developedbyindependentpriestswithoutsupportofcentraldenomination.Nowhasbecomemainstreamactivityofmostdenominations.

²  But“socialwelfareisnotsocialtransformation”andtheseactivitiesdidnotchangethedomesticBuddhistcrisis.

SociallyEngagedBuddhisminJapan²  1996HanshinEarthquakeprovidedamajorcrisisforBuddhistsandBuddhistNGOstogetinvolvedindomesticwelfarework.

²  Since2003,weseemanynewtypesofBuddhistsocialengagement.1)BuddhistReformandRevival:BozuBeAmbitious(2003),Tokai-KantoNetworkofWomenandBuddhism(1994)

2)BuddhistChaplaincy:RinbutsukenInstituteofEngagedBuddhism’sRinshoBukkyo-shi臨床仏教師(BuddhistChaplain)TrainingProgram(2013),TohokuUniversityRinshoShukyo-shi(InterfaithChaplain)TrainingProgram(2012)

3)SocialEngagement:a)death&dying:ViharaMovement(1984)b)youthand“shut-ins”(hikikomori):TeraNetEN縁

c)povertyandhomelesness:Potalaka(2005),Hitosaji(2009)d)anti-nuclearactivism:NipponzanMyohoji,InterfaithForumfortheReviewofNationalNuclearPolicy(1992)

SociallyEngagedBuddhisminJapantransforming“FuneralBuddhism”

AssociationofBuddhistPriestsConfrontingSelf-deathandSuicide(Anumberofindividualpriestswithavarietyofdifferentstyles

cametogetherin2007toworkonthisproblem)

BeginningsandSigniRicanceoftheHistoricalBuddha

² SiddharthaGautama,aprinceoftheShakyatribalrepublic,attainedenlightenmentandbecameknownastheBuddha(the“awakenedone”)around528B.C.inNortheastIndiaontheNepaliborder.

² HethenwanderedallovernortheastIndiateaching“theMiddleWay”(betweenasceticismandhedonism)for40yearsbeforehisdeath

² HeiscreditedwithdevelopingtheRirsthighlyorganizedmonasticcommunityinIndiawhichincludedwomenandmembersofallcastes,including“untouchables”.

The Spread of Buddhism

3BasicStyles&SchoolsofBuddhism

Theravada上座部仏教(TeachingoftheElders):² SriLankaandSouthEastAsia² orthodox² maintainsmonasticstyleofearlyBuddhism² transcendentalinthatnirvanaisseenasastatebeyondthisworldachievedovermanylifetimes.

² Layfollowersofferdonationstomonkstomakemerittogainapositiverebirthasamalemonk.

² Nunsorderdiedoutbutisbeingrevived.

3BasicStyles&SchoolsofBuddhismMahayana大乗仏教(GreatVehicle):² EastAsia² reform² centralidealofthebodhisattvawhovoluntarilystaysinsamsaricrebirthtoworkfortheenlightenmentofallbeings

² immanentalinthatnirvanaisfoundintheworldofsuffering(samsara)

² EastAsianinRluencemeansmanyveneratefamilyancestorsatBuddhisttemples.

² Strongtraditionofcelibatenuns,esp.Taiwan

3BasicStyles&SchoolsofBuddhism

Vajrayana金剛乗仏教(DiamondVehicle):² TibetandJapan² tantra密教ormantra真言:guruleadsstudentsthroughacomplexseriesofinitiationsandvisualizationstogainenlightenmentinthislife.

² basicallyabranchofMahayana(enlightenmentisfoundinandthroughthebody)

² someadoptunorthodoxpractices(regardingsex,alcohol,etc.)

² believesstronglyinreincarnatedteachers

CoreBuddhistTeachings² DependentCo-Arising縁起:ThereisnoCreatorGodororiginalsourcetotheuniverse.SimplyacontinualRlowofcausesandconditions.

² Not-self無我:Thus,thereisnosouloreternalself-existence.Humanconsciousnessgoesthroughanendlesscycleofchangeandtransformation.

² samsara輪廻anddukkha苦:Thisendlesscycleofchange(samsara)isasourceofendlessdissatisfactionorsuffering(dukkha).

² TheFourNobleTruths四聖諦:TheBuddhathustaughtto1)confronttherealityofone’sdissatisfaction2)discoverandreRlectonitscauses(ingreed,anger,anddelusion)3)understandthatnirvana(theendingofsuffering)isattainedthroughthecessationofthesecauses4)realizenirvanathroughthepracticeoftheNobleEightfoldPath八正道ofvirtue戒,mindfulness定,andwisdom慧

CoreBuddhistTeachings:theNobleEightfoldPath八正道

² wisdom慧

1. Rightunderstanding2. Rightintention² virtue戒

3. Rightspeech4. Rightaction5. Rightlivelihood² mindfulness定

6. Righteffort7. Rightmindfulness8. Rightmeditation

CoreBuddhistTeachings:KarmaKarma=“action”butwhatkindofaction?² Brahmanism/earlyHinduism:karma=ritualaction,meanttosecureafavorablebirthinheavenbyAillingupheavenwithmerit(puñña)forthepersononwhosebehalftheritualisdone.Byproperritualstheharmonybetweenhumanbehaviorandnaturallawismaintainedorre-established.Impurityiscleansedbyritual.Karmaisnotamoralorethicallaw,butasociallawthatperpetuatedthecastesystem(classandgender).Heavenwasgainedbypayingprieststoperformritualsthatensuredagoodafterlife.² AsceticHinduism/Jainism:karma=asceticaction,meanttocleansethebodyandmindofimpuritiesaccumulatedinlivinginthisworldofsuffering.“Badkarma”canbeaccumulatedfromintentionalimmoralactionsorunintentionalones.Liberation(moksha)ratherthanheavenisgainedbyendingre-incarnationandrebirth.Impurityiscleansedbyasceticismandrejectingthephysical.Karmicactionismoralbutnotethical,focusedonindividualescapefromtheworldofsuffering.WomennotallowedtopracticeasceticHinduism.

CoreBuddhistTeachings:Karma² Buddhism:karma=intentionalaction,inmind,word,anddeed.Actionsfollowtheintentionsandhabitsofthemind.

² “Badkarma”isaccumulatedfrombasicignoranceandthegreedy/angry/deludedactionsthatcomefromit.

² ImpurityiscleansedbytheNobleEightfoldPaththatcombinesmentalandphysicaltraining.

² Liberationis“toextinguish”(tonirvana)thisignorance,hopefullyinthislifetime.

² Karmicactionisethical,focusedonhelpingoneselfandotherstowardsthisgoal.Womenandallclassesofpeoplemaybecomefullpractitioners.