Online dictionary of history and traditions in Japan: buddhism

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Jizo

地蔵地蔵菩薩
alternative words: Jizou, Jizo bosatsu
keywords: buddhism , god
related topics: Bosatsu , Kannon , Heian period , Buddhism
explanation: Between the death of the last Buddha (the historical Buddha Sakyamuni), and the birth of the next (Miroku) to come, Jizo remains on the earth to save the people. Usually he is represented by a monk who carries a stick on the left hand and a chaplet on the right. He had been introduced from China to Japan during Heian period. Later, he has been associated with local gods (Dososhin or Dosojin) to become a protector of the children. His Sanskrit name is Ksitigharbha (womb of earth).

Jodo sect

浄土宗
alternative words: Jodo shu, Jodo-shu, Jodoshu sect, Jodoshu, Pure land sect
keywords: buddhism , sect
related topics: Honen , Buddhism , Heian period , Kamakura period
related web sites: http://www.jodo.or.jp
explanation: Buddhism sect founded by Honen at the end of Heian period. Because of their missionary method, "direct preach on the street even for women", it provoked an anger of the established sects and many disciples and Honen himself were condemned and sent to exiles. Their doctrine consists to repeat the prayer "Namu amida butsu" i.e. "I take my refuge in the Buddha Amida". One of major disciples of Honen, Shinran preached it in the eastern Japan during exile and founded "Jodoshinshu sect".

Jodo shin sect

浄土真宗真宗一向宗
alternative words: Jodoshinshu sect, Jodoshinshu, Jodo shinshu, Jod shin shu, Shin sect, Shinshu, Ikko sect, Ikkoshu, True pure land sect
keywords: buddhism , sect
related topics: Shinran , Kamakura period , Muromachi period , Rennyo , Honen , Jodo sect , Buddhism
related web sites: http://www.hongwanji.or.jp
explanation: One of the new Buddhist sects created in Kamakura period. Its founder, Shinran never interested in creating a sect, his followers had been split into several groups and weaken. Much later, during Muromachi period, Rennyo, a descendant of Shinran, began to gather all these groups around Honganji temple, a mausoleum of Shinran, to create a powerful sect. Issued from Honen's Jodo sect, it gives more importance to the faith of each than simple prayers. It admits marriage of priests and meat eating.

Kannon

観音観世音菩薩
alternative words: Kanzeon Bosatsu
keywords: buddhism , god
related topics: Bosatsu , Jizo , Nyorai , Buddhism
explanation: Attendant (Bosatsu) of Buddha Nyorai, he is supposed to be able to hear everybody who are suffering in order to save them. With Jizo, he is one of the most popular deities in Japan. Frequently he is represented by a statue with many hands (Senju Kannon i.e. Kannon with 1000 hands) or many faces. His Sanskrit name is Avalokite浡ra and means "those who observe freely what's occurring in the world".

Komuso

虚無僧
alternative words: Komusou, Komuso monk
keywords: buddhism , ninja , title
related topics: Rinzai sect , Shakuhachi , Ninja , Ronin
related web sites: http://www2s.biglobe.ne.jp/~komuken/
explanation: Members of Fukeshu group of Rinzai sect who consists to propagate Zen doctrine by playing Japanese flute (Shakuhachi). With white surplice and straw hat which covers completely the face, they traveled to ask offerings by playing Shakuhachi. Able to trip with hidden face, it was a favorite style of conspirators or antisocial groups such as Ninja and Ronin. Beginning from 16th century, they have disappeared quickly since the ban of Fukeshu in 1871.

Kongo rikishi

金剛力士仁王
alternative words: Konkou rikishi, Kongorikishi, Kongourikishi, Nio, Niou, Benevolent king, Vajrapani, Vajradara
keywords: buddhism , god
related topics: Buddhism , Kamakura period , Unkei
related web sites: http://www5.freeweb.ne.jp/art/kbi/index.files/shurui.html , http://www02.so-net.ne.jp/~segi/trip/199909/favorite.html
explanation: Kongorikishi is a Hindu god who has accepted to become a guardian of Buddhism. He frequently appears 2 angry worriors at the gate of Japanese temples: Mitsushaku Kongo stands on the left and carries a thunderbolt stick while Naraen Kongo on the right with a saber. The statues created by Unkei and Kaikei and located at the south main gate of Todaiji temple are a master piece of Kamakura sculpture. Vajrapani or Vajradara means "thunderbolt stick holder" in Sanskrit.

Kukai

空海弘法大師
alternative words: Kuukai, Kobodaishi, Kobo-daishi, Kobo daishi, Kouboudaishi, Kobotaishi, Kouboutaishi
keywords: buddhism , china , famous person , priest
related topics: Shingon sect , Heian period , Buddhism , Esoteric Buddhism , Saicho
related web sites: http://www.kobodaishi.org
explanation: Born in 774 in Kagawa prefecture. He learned first in Buddhism and Confucianism Kinki region. Then he trained in different sanctuaries for 7 years and left many legends with the name of Kobotaishi. In 804, he went to China with Saicho to bring a new Buddhism doctrine (Esoteric Buddhism) to Japan and created Shingon sect. Kongobuji temple opened by him at Mount Koya in Wakayama prefecture still remains an important sanctuary. He died in 835.

Myoan Yosai

明庵栄西栄西
alternative words: Myoan Eisai, Yosai Myoan, Eisai Myoan, Yosai, Eisai
keywords: buddhism , china , famous person , priest
related topics: Rinzai sect , Tendai sect , Zen , Kamakura shogunate
explanation: Born in 1141 in a samurai family of Okayama prefecture. He learned first Esoteric Buddhism from Tendai sect of Mt Hiei. He went 2 times to China (1168 and 1186) to learn Zen, then opened the first Japanese Zen temple, Seifukuji, in Fukuoka. When he went to Kyoto to propagate Zen, he was persecuted by Tendai sect and had to flee to Kamakura. There he built Jufukuji temple under a patronage of Kamakura shogunate, then Kenninji temple at Kyoto. He died in 1215.

Nichiren

日蓮日蓮上人
alternative words: Holly Nichiren, Nichiren shonin, Nichiren dai shonin, Nichiren shounin
keywords: buddhism , famous person , priest
related topics: Buddhism , Kamakura shogunate , Nichiren sect , Invasion of Mongols
related web sites: http://www2.justnet.ne.jp/~lotusueda/nichiren.htm , http://www.nichiren.or.jp , http://www.nichiren-etudes.net
explanation: Born in 1222 in Chiba prefecture. Sent at the age of 12 to Kinki region to learn different Buddhism, he convinced himself of the superiority of Hokekyo (Lotus Sutra) and condemned Jodo (Pure Land) belief. He entered the conflict with the latter and left the region for Kamakura. There, he wrote "Rissho ankokuron" who predicted a foreign invasion. For that reason, he was condemned to an exile to Sado island. After the Mongols' invasion, he was pardoned. He died in 1282 during a trip.

Nichiren sect

日蓮宗
alternative words: Nichiren shu, Nichiren-shu, Nichirenshu, Nichirenshu sect, Hokke sect, Lotus sect
keywords: buddhism , sect
related topics: Nichiren , Kamakura period , Kamakura shogunate
related web sites: http://www.nichiren.or.jp
explanation: Buddhism sect founded by Nichiren during Kamakura period. Because of no compromising attitude toward the existing sects and Kamakura shogunate, they had been greatly persecuted. When Nichiren's prediction on a foreign invasion had been realized, the sect became popular. After the death of Nichiren, because of a friction between disciples, it has been split to several sects. Namu myoho renge kyo (I take my refuge in the Lotus Sutra) is their precept.

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