Online dictionary of history and traditions in Japan: sect

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Jodo sect

浄土宗
alternative words: Jodo shu, Jodo-shu, Jodoshu sect, Jodoshu, Pure land sect
keywords: buddhism , sect
related topics: Honen , Buddhism , Heian period , Kamakura period
related web sites: http://www.jodo.or.jp
explanation: Buddhism sect founded by Honen at the end of Heian period. Because of their missionary method, "direct preach on the street even for women", it provoked an anger of the established sects and many disciples and Honen himself were condemned and sent to exiles. Their doctrine consists to repeat the prayer "Namu amida butsu" i.e. "I take my refuge in the Buddha Amida". One of major disciples of Honen, Shinran preached it in the eastern Japan during exile and founded "Jodoshinshu sect".

Jodo shin sect

浄土真宗真宗一向宗
alternative words: Jodoshinshu sect, Jodoshinshu, Jodo shinshu, Jod shin shu, Shin sect, Shinshu, Ikko sect, Ikkoshu, True pure land sect
keywords: buddhism , sect
related topics: Shinran , Kamakura period , Muromachi period , Rennyo , Honen , Jodo sect , Buddhism
related web sites: http://www.hongwanji.or.jp
explanation: One of the new Buddhist sects created in Kamakura period. Its founder, Shinran never interested in creating a sect, his followers had been split into several groups and weaken. Much later, during Muromachi period, Rennyo, a descendant of Shinran, began to gather all these groups around Honganji temple, a mausoleum of Shinran, to create a powerful sect. Issued from Honen's Jodo sect, it gives more importance to the faith of each than simple prayers. It admits marriage of priests and meat eating.

Nichiren sect

日蓮宗
alternative words: Nichiren shu, Nichiren-shu, Nichirenshu, Nichirenshu sect, Hokke sect, Lotus sect
keywords: buddhism , sect
related topics: Nichiren , Kamakura period , Kamakura shogunate
related web sites: http://www.nichiren.or.jp
explanation: Buddhism sect founded by Nichiren during Kamakura period. Because of no compromising attitude toward the existing sects and Kamakura shogunate, they had been greatly persecuted. When Nichiren's prediction on a foreign invasion had been realized, the sect became popular. After the death of Nichiren, because of a friction between disciples, it has been split to several sects. Namu myoho renge kyo (I take my refuge in the Lotus Sutra) is their precept.

Rinzai sect

臨済宗
alternative words: Rinzaishu sect, Rinzaishu, Rinzai-shu, Rinzai shu
keywords: buddhism , china , sect
related topics: Myoan Yosai , Buddhism , Zen , Tendai sect , Shingon sect , Kamakura period , Muromachi period
related web sites: http://www.iijnet.or.jp/iriz/irizhtml/indexj.htm , http://www.bekkoame.ne.jp/~yo-san/
explanation: One of the 5 major Zen sects in China. It was implemented in Japan by Yosai in 1191 when he built the first Zen temple, Seifukuji, in Fukuoka. Contrary to Soto sect of Dogen, it has remained reconciling with other sects such as Tendai and Shingon. It give the importance to "Koan" (questionnaires to mediate) and fast enlightening. The monastery's network of Gozan (5 main monasteries) held up by shoguns had been prosperous during Kamakura and Muromachi periods.

Shingon sect

真言宗
alternative words: Shingonshu sect, Shingonshu, Shingon-shu, Shingon shu, Shingon
keywords: buddhism , china , sect
related topics: Kukai , Buddhism , Esoteric Buddhism , Heian period , Kamakura period , Tendai sect
related web sites: http://www.shingon.or.jp
explanation: One of the esoteric Buddhism sects brought from China by Kukai in 806. He made it independent by founding Kongobuji temple in 816 at Mt Koya in Wakayama prefecture. As Tendai sect, it had been popular among Heian nobility but its influence declined after an emergence of new Buddhism orders in Kamakura period. During middle ages, because Dainichi (great sun) nyorai being the most important god for the sect, Amaerasu (sun godess) of shintoism was considered his avatar.

Soto sect

曹洞宗
alternative words: Sotoshu sect, Sotoshu, Soto-shu, Soto shu, Soutou sect, Soutoushu sect, Soutoushu, Soutou-shu, Soutou shu
keywords: buddhism , sect
related topics: Eihe Dogen , Rinzai sect , Zen
related web sites: http://www.sotozen-net.or.jp , http://www.jtvan.co.jp/~soto/ , http://www.pa.airnet.ne.jp/szi/
explanation: One of the 5 major Zen sects in China. It was implemented in Japan by Dogen in 1227. It developed first under a shadow of Rinzai sect. It became independent when Dogen moved to Eheji temple of Fukui prefecture. After the death of Dogen, the sect suffered a scission and it is Daijoji temple of Ishikawa prefecture who became the center of sect with Keizan as leader. Contrary to Rinzai sect, it prefers a gradual enlightening thanks to long and austere meditations.

Tendai sect

天台宗
alternative words: Tendaishu sect, Tendaishu, Tendai-shu, Tendai shu, Tendai
keywords: buddhism , china , sect
related topics: Saicho , Buddhism , Esoteric Buddhism , Heian period , Kamakura period , Sengoku period , Oda Nobunaga
related web sites: http://www.tendai.or.jp
explanation: One of the esoteric Buddhism sects brought from China by Saicho. He was authorized to found Japanese branch in 806 at Mt Hiei near Kyoto. It had been especially popular among Heian nobility but its popularity decreased in Kamakura period due to a concurrence of new Buddhism sects, though it continued to keep a political power thanks to innumerable monk soldiers. During Sengoku period, after an attack of Oda Nobunaga, its power was virtually annihilated.

Zen

禅禅宗
alternative words: Zen sect, Zenshu, Zen shu
keywords: buddhism , china , religion , sect
related topics: Daruma , Buddhism , Kamakura period , Rinzai sect , Myoan Yosai , Soto sect , Eihe Dogen
related web sites: http://www.ah.wakwak.com/~lotus/ , http://www.zenbunka.or.jp
explanation: One of Buddhist doctrines which gives an importance to the meditation and existed in India since old times. Daruma (Bodhidharma) propagated it to China around 5th century. In Japan it arrived during Nara period but hadn't become popular until Kamakura period when Eisai and Dogen brought from China respectively Rinzai and Soto teachings. Then, Zen gave great influences to Japanese architecture and literature. Zen comes from dhyana in Sanskrit, i.e. "meditation".
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