Religious Studies 1023E Lecture : Lecture 1 - Japanese Buddhism

• School: Western University
• Department: Religious Studies
• Course: Religious Studies 1023E
• Professor: Mahdi Tourage

Document Summary

Why did they embrace it: first goes to korea, then to japan, missionary religion, chinese buddhist monks travelled to korea (372. Ce, 4th century: buddhism was associated with high chinese culture. very different from china, china highly advanced. believed they were bringing buddhism, actually brought high. king supports buddhism = religious merit, not only a denouncing religion. hitting on aspect of buddhism of a righteous buddhist king, peaceful kingdom. Japanese emperor delighted by letter, says to court in japan that they like all other civilizations are going to accept it too: many tried to convince emperor to not allow it, pro-shinto. emperor not swayed, brought buddhism: natural disaster happens. tore down temple, threw out statue, no more buddhism, lasted about 10 years y: prince shotoku (son of emperor) how country should be run on the basis of buddhism, Confucianism and taoism: 710 - 784 nara period.