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Dosho (Japanese道 昭; * 629, † 700 ) was a Buddhist monk scholar (僧 学者, sōgakusha ) in Japan during the Asuka period. He performed the first of four traditions of the teaching of the Chinese Yogācāra School Faxiang zong to Japan, which became known as Hosso shū there, one of the so-called six Buddhist schools of the Nara period. His lineage of Hosso shū later became known as Nan -ji the (南 寺 伝; " tradition of the Southern Temple " ) are known.
Study in China
Dosho traveled with one of the former imperial embassies to the Tang court (遣 唐 使, Kento -shi) to China and studied in the capital Chang'an about seven years of about 653-660 Yogācāra teachings Xuan Zang under ( 603-664 ) and Kui Ji ( 632-682; chinese窥基).
Dōshōs career is the best documented of the 120 participants of the Embassy of 653 His father was Esaka of Kabane Fune no Muraji. He studied from 653-659 (or 661 ) in China, allegedly directly under the prestigious Xuan Zang. He is considered the " first carrier of Hosso " ( Hosso daiichiden ), although this is historically occupied only sparsely. The second Shoku Nihongi Rikkokushi describes first his biography. Consequently, he had also studied under Chan Huiman (慧 满), but this probably is japanischerseits decoration. Huiman was the most famous monk of his time, busy with his numerous translations, headed a monastery with about 500 monks and was asked by the government as an advisor.
Dosho returned with a large number of Buddhist scriptures, including probably treatises on logic ( Skt. Hetu - vidya; jap因 明, immyō ), a hitherto unknown discipline in Japan.
Activity in Japan
What is certain is that Dosho in his home temple gango -ji (at the time still called Hoko -ji ) is a meditation hall (禅院, zen -in) erect and there was already " retreats " held. 698/11/5 he was appointed Daisōzu, after conducting an eye opening ceremony for a statue of Amida and Embroidery ( with more than 100 characters ).
Dosho was one of the first to the Chinese Civil Engineering known made in Japan, by helping in the construction of bridges, dams, irrigation system and wells and roads. This work was supported by his most famous student, Gyōgi (行 基; 668-748 ), continued and developed.
After Dōshōs death, his body was interred in accordance with his last will in a cremation, the historically first time this has happened in Japan at his own request.