Risshū (Buddhism)

The Ritsu (Japanese律宗; German about " school [ Shuu ] the rules of conduct [ ritsu ]; Vinaya School" ) is a Japanese school of Buddhism, which originated during the Nara period. She could get as an independent school up to the present.

History

The Chinese forerunner of Ritsu, the Lüzong (Chinese律宗, Pinyin Lǜzōng, W.-G. Lü -tsung ), based on the Mahayana Vinaya and was developed by Dao Xuan ( 596-667 ;道 宣, dào Xuan, Tao - hsuan; justified jap cans) and is commonly the so-called 13 major Buddhist schools of China (十三 宗, Zong ) shisan counted.

The introduction of Ritsu in Japan in the year 753 was just like their foundation in China to the effect motivated to commit clear rules for the conduct of Buddhist monks and to regulate particular issues affecting their ordination. This had become necessary because the established schools and their teachings threatened to compromise the uncertainty about these questions befundene as intolerable spread of moral laxity, arbitrariness in Buddhist questions and greed for power.

In Japan, Ritsu was then connected from the beginning very closely with political interests, because the rulers were unwilling, the uncontrolled growth still had both the power and the number of monks who do not pay taxes do forced labor to sustain longer.

After more than a century 's own internal political attempts of regulation (including those in the Taika Reform) finally despatched Shōmu moved - tennō in 733 representatives of Hosso and Sanron shū, Egg egg (栄 睿;? -749 ) And Fushō (普照; 8 century), to China to invite Ritsu teachers to Japan. Result of this request initially came Dao Xuan. In 753 was followed by the famous Ritsu teacher Jian Zhen ( -763; ? Jap Ganjin ) after four previously unsuccessful attempts at crossing, which is considered its own tradition of Ritsu as its true founder. He was received at the imperial court with the highest honors. At Todai -ji ordination platform (戒坛, kaidan ) was established in the year 754, which should represent all six Nara schools. Ganjin ordained there in the same year Shōmu moved and 400 lay people and 80 monks. ( " Great - rectifier ", one of the highest offices of the former State Buddhism, for instance to German ) appointed and established in the year 759 the Toshodai -ji, he made the center of the Ritsu studies and where he also Ganjin eventually became Daisōjō permission to set up your own ordination platform received.

Ordination platforms have been set up in the year 761 also on Kanzeon -ji in Dazaifu and the Yakushi -ji in the province Shimotsuke. Along with those at the Todai -ji and Toshodai -ji controlled this the entire ordinations in Japan to Heian period, as Saicho in 822 was allowed to build his own Tendai Mahayana ordination platform on Mount Hiei. Due to the loss of its monopoly, the Ritsu experienced in the following century a strong descent, and stood mid-10th century, shortly before the extinction of the succession line.

One of the first innovator was Jitsuhan (実 范, also Jippan; ? -1144 ), Whose tradition is not historically proven.

Much more successful was started in the Kamakura period tradition of syncretism from Ritsu and the teachings of the Shingon Shuu, a movement which Eison (睿 尊, also Eizon; 1201-90 ) began, under the name of Shingon Ritsu (真言 律 ) and Shingon Ritsu (真言 律宗) was known and turned in previously unimagined levels of the general population, including for the first time farmers and even members of the Hinin class. Center of the Shingon Ritsu studies was the temple Saidai -ji, at the time of death Eisons had approximately 1,500 branch temples.

Eisons known student was Ninshō (忍性; 1217-1303; well Ryokan (良 観) ) which, in particular due to its extensive social activities ( such as the construction of hospitals and bridges) and his ready acceptance of high honorary positions during his lifetime (for which he, in particular was sharply criticized by Nichiren ) had made ​​a name. In 1261 he restored with the help of the Hōjō regent the Gokuraku -ji in Kamakura.

The last great innovator of the Shingon Ritsu was onco (饮 光, 1718-1804; well Jiun (慈云) ) during the Tokugawa period.

A different and independent tradition of Ritsu teaching was introduced in the 13th century in Kyoto from China. Initially this was done by Shunjō (俊 芿; 1166-1227 ) in 1211, who built with the help of the Hōjō the temple Sennyū -ji in Kyoto. The second tradition was by Donshō (昙 照;? -1239 ), Who, after his first return to the Kaiko -ji in Kyoto, built in 1228 and in 1240 after his second return to Sairan -ji in Dazaifu and the Torin -ji in Kyoto made ​​to centers of Ritsu studies. This tradition of so-called Ritsu the northern capital, however, has never been particularly popular.

Writings

Basic text is the Shibun - ritsu (四分 律; German as " The Vinaya in four parts", the Vinaya is the collection of rules of conduct for monks ), one of Buddhayaśas and Zhu Fonian in the years 412/413 (Japanese Bustudayasha or Kakumyō and Jiku Butsunen ) translation completed the Dharmaguptaka vinaya of Indian Dharmagupta school. It will, inter alia, in its four parts both causes and consequences and that appropriate punishment of misconduct by the monks and nuns described in detail.

Second reason was the text Shibun - ritsu - Gyoji - shō (四分 律 行事 钞), a commentary on the Shibun - ritsu by Dao Xuan.

In the Shingon Ritsu to Shibun - ritsu the Bonmōkyō (梵网 经, the Brahmajala - sūtra ) were additionally, the Yugaron (瑜伽 论, the Yogācārabhūmi - sastra ), rules of Sarvastivada, and the three main headings of Dao Xuan used.

Teaching

Philosophically or theologically the Ritsu did not really innovations for Buddhism in Japan. Their strict interpretation of the rules for religious communities but was second to none. Your primacy of practice over theory in favor of a moral strengthening of the Buddhist doctrine was to have far -reaching consequences for the historical development of Japanese Buddhism.