Seizan
Encyclopedia
Seizan is the name of the branch of Jōdo shū
Buddhism that was founded by Hōnen's disciple, Shōkū
. Shōkū often went by the name Seizan as well, however the name derives from the western mountains of Kyoto
where Shōkū often dwelt. The main temple of this branch of Buddhism is at the temple of Eikandō
in the city of Kyoto
. The temple formerly served as a Shingon Buddhist temple, but when Jōhen headed the temple, he took an interest in Jōdo Buddhism (originally in order to criticize it), designated Hōnen as the 11th chief priest. Later, Hōnen's disciple became the head priest of Eikandō
, and established the Seizan branch, fully converting the temple into a Jōdo one.
Buddha, and recitation of the nembutsu. Shōkū coined the term shiraki no nembutsu, which refers to a practice where one devotes themselves to intense study of Buddhist literature, and then recites the nembutsu with deep, sincere faith. The idea behind shiraki no nembutsu is to demonstrate that in the age of Mappo
, people cannot achieve Enlightenment on their own, and so they should rely on the compassion of Amida
Buddha.
Seizan Buddhism also seems to incorporated techniques from the Shingon and Tendai
sects including the use of mandala
(such as the famous Taima Mandala
), and other ascetic practices. Shōkū, its founder, was said to recite the nembutsu 60,000 times a day and would endure other ascetic practices. Unlike some of Hōnen's disciples, such as Kōsai
, who attempted to eschew other Buddhist practices in favor of the nembutsu, the Seizan branch attempted to organize all Buddhist practices into a hierarchy, with the nembutsu being the foremost practice. This is a similar approach to that found in Shingon, Tendai
and Kegon
sects of Buddhism.
In Seizan thought, it is thought that practices other than the nembutsu do contain some merit, but not equal to even one recitation of the nembutsu.
Jodo Shu
, also known as Jōdo Buddhism, is a branch of Pure Land Buddhism derived from the teachings of the Japanese ex-Tendai monk Hōnen. It was established in 1175 and is the most widely practiced branch of Buddhism in Japan, along with Jōdo Shinshū....
Buddhism that was founded by Hōnen's disciple, Shōkū
Shoku
, sometimes called was a disciple of Hōnen, founder of the Jōdo shū Buddhist sect. Shoku later succeeded another disciple of Hōnen, Jōhen as the head of a former Shingon Buddhist temple, Eikandō, established a separate branch of Jōdo shū called the Seizan branch , and completed the transition of...
. Shōkū often went by the name Seizan as well, however the name derives from the western mountains of Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
where Shōkū often dwelt. The main temple of this branch of Buddhism is at the temple of Eikandō
Eikan-do Zenrin-ji
For other temples by similar names, see Zenrin-ji.Eikan-dō Zenrin-ji is the head temple for the Seizan branch of Japan's Jōdo shū Buddhist sect, located in the town of Eikandō, in Kyoto's Sakyō-ku...
in the city of Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
. The temple formerly served as a Shingon Buddhist temple, but when Jōhen headed the temple, he took an interest in Jōdo Buddhism (originally in order to criticize it), designated Hōnen as the 11th chief priest. Later, Hōnen's disciple became the head priest of Eikandō
Eikan-do Zenrin-ji
For other temples by similar names, see Zenrin-ji.Eikan-dō Zenrin-ji is the head temple for the Seizan branch of Japan's Jōdo shū Buddhist sect, located in the town of Eikandō, in Kyoto's Sakyō-ku...
, and established the Seizan branch, fully converting the temple into a Jōdo one.
Doctrine
As a branch of Jōdo, the central practice is devotion to AmidaAmida
Amida can mean:* Amitabha, an important Buddha in East Asian Buddhism* Amida , a beetle genus* Amida Buddha* Amidah, the central prayer of the Jewish services* Amidakuji, a way of drawing lots* Amitabh Bachchan, an actor...
Buddha, and recitation of the nembutsu. Shōkū coined the term shiraki no nembutsu, which refers to a practice where one devotes themselves to intense study of Buddhist literature, and then recites the nembutsu with deep, sincere faith. The idea behind shiraki no nembutsu is to demonstrate that in the age of Mappo
Mappo
The Latter Day of the Law, is one of the Three Ages of Buddhism. Mappō or Mofa , which is also translated as the Age of Dharma Decline, is the "degenerate" Third Age of Buddhism.- Tradition :...
, people cannot achieve Enlightenment on their own, and so they should rely on the compassion of Amida
Amida
Amida can mean:* Amitabha, an important Buddha in East Asian Buddhism* Amida , a beetle genus* Amida Buddha* Amidah, the central prayer of the Jewish services* Amidakuji, a way of drawing lots* Amitabh Bachchan, an actor...
Buddha.
Seizan Buddhism also seems to incorporated techniques from the Shingon and Tendai
Tendai
is a Japanese school of Mahayana Buddhism, a descendant of the Chinese Tiantai or Lotus Sutra school.Chappell frames the relevance of Tendai for a universal Buddhism:- History :...
sects including the use of mandala
Mandala
Maṇḍala is a Sanskrit word that means "circle". In the Buddhist and Hindu religious traditions their sacred art often takes a mandala form. The basic form of most Hindu and Buddhist mandalas is a square with four gates containing a circle with a center point...
(such as the famous Taima Mandala
Taima Mandala
The Taima Mandala is a mandala in Japanese Pure Land Buddhism. The original copy of the mandala is still housed in the Taima-dera temple in Nara, Japan, and was woven approximately around 763. The mandala is appointed as a national treasure of Japan on April 27, 1961. Many copies have been made...
), and other ascetic practices. Shōkū, its founder, was said to recite the nembutsu 60,000 times a day and would endure other ascetic practices. Unlike some of Hōnen's disciples, such as Kōsai
Kōsai
was a former monk of the Tendai Buddhist sect and controversial disciple of Hōnen who advocated the that led to his public censure, his later expulsion by Hōnen and eventual exile to Shikoku...
, who attempted to eschew other Buddhist practices in favor of the nembutsu, the Seizan branch attempted to organize all Buddhist practices into a hierarchy, with the nembutsu being the foremost practice. This is a similar approach to that found in Shingon, Tendai
Tendai
is a Japanese school of Mahayana Buddhism, a descendant of the Chinese Tiantai or Lotus Sutra school.Chappell frames the relevance of Tendai for a universal Buddhism:- History :...
and Kegon
Kegon
Kegon is the name of the Japanese transmission of the Huayan school of Chinese Buddhism.Huayan studies were founded in Japan when, in 736, the scholar-priest Rōben originally a monk of the Hossō tradition invited Shinshō to give lectures on the Avatamsaka Sutra at...
sects of Buddhism.
In Seizan thought, it is thought that practices other than the nembutsu do contain some merit, but not equal to even one recitation of the nembutsu.