SaichÅ
Saicho (Japanese最澄, Highest clarity '; born September 9, 767; † June 26 822 ) was a Japanese Buddhist monk, who is regarded as the founder of the traditional Tendai shū in Japan. Based on the Chinese Tiantai tradition he had met on the Tiantai mountain during his stay 804 in China, he founded the Tendai shū with the main temple Enryaku -ji on Mount Hiei near Kyoto. Posthumously, he was the title DENGYO Daishi (伝 教 大师to about German, Great Master of the tradition of teaching ') awarded.
Life
Saicho was born as the son of devout Chinese Buddhists - burly. At age 12 he became a student of Gyōhyō (行 表; 722-797 ) in the province temple of the province Ōmi, where he was taught in the tradition of the Northern Chan - teaching. At 14, he officially joined the Sangha and received 19 years in Todai -ji in Nara shū the Kegon full monk ordination. He soon returned the capital back to retreat in a hermitage of Hieizan where he meditation and the study of Huayan and Tiantai Zong devoted himself. This should eventually one of the largest temple complexes in Japan arise: the Enryaku -ji.
But even 794 moved the capital back closer because the Kammu - tennō Heian - kyō, present-day Kyoto, had made to the new residence. In fact Saicho had been involved in the initiation rites of the new city. Soon the Tennō became aware of the learned monk who promoted him and entrusted him with the mission to study Buddhism in China. Saicho accepted and traveled in the year 804 in a group of four ships to China, only two of which finally reached the mainland. To Kūkai, who later founded the Shingon Shuu, which initially should be Saichōs friend and then one of his fiercest rivals in Japan later was aboard the other.
Saicho was at the Monastery Mountain Tiantai students in the Ox-head school of Chan under Master Hsiao -jan (翛 禅) and studied Tiantai zong under Daosui (道 邃) and Zhenyan (眞 言, Japanese Shingon ) under Shunxiao (顺 晓), eventually became the Tiantai zong ordained and returned 805 back with a large number of sutras and commentaries to Japan.
806 Saicho founded the Tendai shū whose monks had however a pilgrimage to ordination to the powerful monasteries of Nara, just like the monks who also around this time founded by Kūkai esoteric Shingon shū. Only under the Saga tennō received both the Order 822 the right to establish its own ordination platform (戒坛, kaidan ), which is considered a great moment for the Japanese Mahayana. Saicho was a week ago died. As the successor he had appointed Gishin, the Ennin succeeded, who had grown up under the care Saichōs in the temple.