Rinzai school
The Rinzai Shuu (Japanese临 済 宗) is an introduced in Japan by Eisai Myōan 1191 teaching tradition of Zen Buddhism and is one of the major schools of Chinese Chan, the Linji Zong zong (Chinese临济 宗pinyin Linji, W. -G. Lin -chi tsung ) and its founder Linji Yixuan (9th century ) back.
The Rinzai shū is after Soto shū today the second largest of the three Zen schools in Japan, all of which are in the tradition of the Huanglong or Ōryo school. Main centers were and are Kyoto and Kamakura. The Japanese culture has been deeply influenced by the Zen aesthetic, as the Japanese Middle Ages ( Kamakura period, Muromachi period ) dominant Rinzai shū, especially the temple ranking system " monasteries in the Five Mountains " ( Gozan ) very big influence in circles of the Samurai had. From this time the quote: " Rinzai for the Shogun, Sōtō for farmers " (临 済 将军,曹洞 土 民, rinzai shōgun, soto domin ).
In particular, the tea - way ( sado ) expresses the culture of silence from particularly true, but applies Eisai as the bearer of the tea plant from China. The Rinzai temple are also regarded as the home of garden art, as well as the martial arts and the other Zen -way ( Dō ).
The main teaching method of all Zen schools is zazen, sitting meditation in silence, which is practiced in the Rinzai school and face the center of the room. In addition to the Kinhin that is practiced in a counterclockwise direction and at different speeds, the monastic practice places great emphasis on physical labor ( Samu ). The Rinzai shū in Japan was renewed by the great Zen master Hakuin Ekaku and artists in the 18th century and reformed. Hakuin, who truly appreciated the power of the ' Great Doubt ' in breaking through the barriers of the mind, placed great emphasis on working with koans, which are in the exercises of the Rinzai shū important. Koans are absurd appearing puzzle ( for example: Who were you before your parents were born? ), Which are given to the students to solve and should lead him to enlightenment. The special feature here is that these koans are intellectually not be solved, and so the students a great amount of mental and physical exertion. To the answers that are the master of pupils, the master can detect the degree of spiritual maturity of his protege.
The Rinzai shū divided into fourteen branches which are named after their main temples. The main temple of the largest school of the Rinzai Zen is the Myoshin -ji in Kyoto. Hence also the Mampuku -ji the Obaku shū Will be added because this school was affiliated with traditionally long period of Rinzai shū. Other well-known temple in Kyoto are the Gozan - circle belonging to the main temple Nanzen -ji, Tenryu -ji, Shokoku -ji and Tofuku -ji, and the Daitokuji. Overall, a number of 6,000 Rinzai Shuu- temples in Japan is given.
The Rinzai shū also maintains its own university ( Hanazono University) and the Hanazono High School.