Pure Land and

Esoteric Buddhism
By Brandon and David
 Buddhism in Japan
 Buddhism was brought into Japan
as a political tool
 Buddhahood was only granted to
the elite
 Buddhism meshed with Shinto
traditions
 Todaiji built with the kami,
Hachiman’s approval
 Hachiman shrine built overlooking
Todaiji
 Guanyin
 Bodhisattva from China came to
Japan, popularized Buddhism
 Bodhisattvas have no gender but
Chinese portrayed him as male,
Japanese embraced a more female
form
 Name became Kanon, Kan-
(suffering seen) on- (suffering
heard
 Popular with warriors because
Kanon is associated with
fearlessness
 Nara Period Buddhism
 701, Buddhism gained many bureaus
such as libraries, arts, and archetecture
 Government feared too much power
from Buddhism and kept a close eye on
their actions
 Two monks, Saicho and Kokai, trying
to revitalize Buddhism, studied in
China
 Returned 803, Saicho developed Tendai
Buddhism while Kokai Buddhism
 Tendai popular for its belief of
Buddhahood and acceptance of kami
 Genshin
 Genshin, a Tendai monk first
started Pure Land Buddhism
around late 900
 Predicted in 1052 he described a
period of degenerate Dharma
(mappo)
 Described six levels of existence:
hell, hungry ghost, demon,
animal, human, heavenly beings
 People were all in the same
existence so focus was on the
common person
 Yoshishige no Yasutane
 Writer, in 985, of stories of achieving
Buddhahood
 Believed women can achieve
Buddhahood even though other
monks were still discussing the
possibility
 One example story, a girl from
aristocratic family develops access to
Pure Land, becomes a man
 Other stories revolve around pious,
unmarried women completely
focused on the teachings of
Buddhism
 Honen
 Honen developed Pure Land further
stating repetition of Namu Amida Butsu
sincerely was sufficient for entrance to
Pure Land
 Meant anyone from peasants to monks
to aristocrats all had an equal chance to
enter
 In 1207, he was banished for this idea,
continued to roam spreading the word to
farmers/fishermen and gaining
popularity
 After death, his grave was defiled, work
burned
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRwfQNq83LU
 Around 1450, Rennyo
reorganized Pure Land
 Armed peasants and masterless
samurai joined to defend
Honganji temple
 By 1500 word spread of their
actions and other rebellions
occurred around Japan
 Although their temple was never
sacked, the peasants were
eventually defeated by Warlord
Nobunaga
 Brought under partial control
 Temple in Society
 Temples in Japan function as religious center
and secular institution.
 Buddhist temple is known as Otera. Shinto
temples are known as Jinja, or Omiya, Jingu.
 The Shinto Shrine is a house for the Kami. A
Buddhist temple is build to house or enclose a
congregation of worshippers.
 Functions of Temple
 Temples in Japan function as religious center
and secular institution.
 Japanese Temples and shrines serve as banks.
 Buddhist Temple
 Buddhist Temples is associated with family.
 Primary function has been to secure the repose
of family’s ancestors.
 Buddhist Temples have also functions as
schools.
 Buddhist Temples are also festival centers.
 Shrines and Temples are permanent institution
for worship.
 The purpose of worship is securing good luck
or magical boons.
 Temples and Shrines functions as “market
place” where vows, prayers, and offerings can
be exchange for boons.