Japanese Shingon Buddhism

A Japanese Shingon Buddhism is a Japanese Buddhism that is a Vajrayana Buddhism.

• AKA: Japanese Esoteric Buddhism.
• Context:
  • It can (typically) refer to a Japanese school founded by the Buddhist monk Kūkai, who brought esoteric teachings from Tang China.
  • It can (often) involve practices using the "three mysteries" of mudra, mantra, and mandala to attain "buddhahood in this very body."
  • It can range from being a Spiritual Practice (focused on ritual and meditation) to an influential doctrine that emphasizes Original Enlightenment (hongaku).
  • It can influence other Japanese traditions such as Tendai, Shugendō, and Shinto.
  • It can impact broader Japanese Culture, including medieval aesthetics, art, and craftsmanship.
  • It can trace its lineage to Indian Esoteric Masters like Śubhakarasiṃha, Vajrabodhi, and Amoghavajra, who founded the Zhēnyán lineage (in China).
  • It can center its teachings and practices at Mount Kōya in Wakayama Prefecture, a major pilgrimage site.
  • ...
• Example(s):
  • Shingon Buddhism, 819.
  • ...
• Counter-Example(s):
  • Chinese Esoteric Buddhism, ...
  • Zen Buddhism, which focuses on meditation (zazen) and does not emphasize esoteric rituals.
  • Pure Land Buddhism, which emphasizes faith and chanting the name of Amitabha Buddha for rebirth in the Pure Land, contrasting with Shingon's esoteric practices.
• See: Japanese Craft, East Asian Buddhism, Kan-on, Vajracharya, Śubhakarasiṃha, Koyasan.

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References

2024

• (Wikipedia, 2024) ⇒ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shingon_Buddhism Retrieved:2024-6-30.
  • is one of the major schools of Buddhism in Japan and one of the few surviving Vajrayana lineages in East Asian Buddhism. It is sometimes also called Japanese Esoteric Buddhism, or Eastern Esotericism (Dōngmì, 東密). The word shingon is the Japanese reading of the Chinese word, which is the translation of the Sanskrit word mantra. The Zhēnyán lineage was founded in China (c. 7th–8th centuries) by Indian vajrācāryas (esoteric masters) like Śubhakarasiṃha, Vajrabodhi and Amoghavajra. These esoteric teachings would later flourish in Japan under the auspices of a Buddhist monk named Kūkai (, 774–835), who traveled to Tang China and received these esoteric transmissions from a Chinese master named Huiguo (746–805). Kūkai established his tradition at Mount Kōya (in Wakayama Prefecture), which remains the central pilgrimage center of Shingon Buddhism. The practice of the Shingon school stresses that one is able to attain "buddhahood in this very body" (sokushin jōbutsu) through its practices, especially those which make use of the "three mysteries" (Jp: sanmi 三密) of mudra, mantra and mandala. Another influential doctrine introduced by Shingon was the idea that all beings are originally enlightened, a doctrine that was known as hongaku. The Shingon school's teachings and rituals had an influence on other Japanese traditions, especially those of the Tendai school, as well as Shugendo and Shinto. Its teachings also influenced the ritual repertoire of Japanese Zen, including Soto Zen (through the figure of Keizan). Shingon Buddhism also influenced broader Japanese culture, including medieval Japanese aesthetics, art, and craftsmanship.

2024

• Perplexity
  • Here's a bullet-point history of Japanese Shingon Buddhism, including years and locations:
    1. 774: Kūkai (later known as Kōbō Daishi), the founder of Shingon Buddhism, is born in present-day Zentsuji city, Kagawa Prefecture.
    2. 804: At age 31, Kūkai travels to Chang'an (present-day Xi'an), China, to study esoteric Buddhism.
    3. 806: Kūkai returns to Japan, bringing with him the esoteric Buddhist teachings that would form the basis of Shingon Buddhism.
    4. 809: Kūkai establishes his first temple, Kongōbu-ji, on Mount Kōya in Wakayama Prefecture.
    5. 816: Emperor Saga grants Kūkai permission to establish a Shingon temple in Kyoto, which becomes Tō-ji.
    6. 819: Kūkai founds the Shingon school of Buddhism at Mount Kōya.
    7. 835: Kūkai enters eternal meditation at Mount Kōya.
    8. 9th-12th centuries: Shingon Buddhism gains popularity among the Japanese aristocracy and spreads throughout the country.
    9. 12th century: Shingon Buddhism experiences a decline in influence as other Buddhist sects gain prominence.
    10. 16th century: Kōgyō Daishi revitalizes Shingon Buddhism, restoring its practices and influence.
    11. Present day: Shingon Buddhism remains one of the major schools of Japanese Buddhism, with its headquarters at Mount Kōya.
    12. Kongobuji Temple on Mount Kōya serves as the main temple of the Kōyasan Shingon sect.
    13. Other important Shingon temples include Tō-ji in Kyoto, Daigo-ji in Kyoto, and Zentsu-ji in Kagawa Prefecture.
  • Citations:

[1] https://www.koyasan.or.jp/sp/en/shingonshu/
[2] http://www.shingon.org/history/history.html
[3] https://chisan.or.jp/en/chishakuin/about-the-chisan-school-of-shingon-buddhism/
[4] https://www.olivierrobert.net/post/japan-shingon-buddhism-the-path-of-enlightenment-according-to-kukai
[5] https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/shingon-buddhism-japan

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