Tan-luan
Encyclopedia
Tánluán (476–542) was a Chinese Buddhist monk. He is credited by Hōnen as the founder of Pure Land Buddhism
in China. He is also considered the Third Patriarch
in Japanese Jodo Shinshu
Buddhism.
Tan-luan was originally a Buddhist scholar but after becoming ill he studied Taoism
in order to seek the Elixir of Life
. However after an encounter with Bodhiruci
a Buddhist monk from India, Tan-luan became a devotee of the Pure Land
teachings and, according to the Jodo Shinshu
hymn Shoshinge
, burnt his Taoist
texts.
Tan-luan later wrote his commentaries on the Larger Sutra of Immeasurable Life
. The commentaries taught that the all beings could be reborn in the Pure Land
of Amitabha
Buddha through sincere recitation of the Buddha's name (Nianfo/Nembutsu). Tan-luan is also credited for having developed the six-character phrase "南無阿彌陀佛" （Namo Amituofo/Namu Amida Butsu) (from Sanskrit
to Chinese
) used throughout Pure Land Buddhism today.
Tan-luan also had a strong impact on the Fourth Patriarch, Tao-cho
who once visited his temple.
Pure Land Buddhism
Pure Land Buddhism , also referred to as Amidism in English, is a broad branch of Mahāyāna Buddhism and currently one of the most popular traditions of Buddhism in East Asia. Pure Land is a branch of Buddhism focused on Amitābha Buddha...
in China. He is also considered the Third Patriarch
Jodo Shinshu Patriarchs
The Seven Patriarchs of Jodo Shinshu were seven Buddhist monks who helped develop Pure Land Buddhism. Shinran, founder of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, established a lineage for Pure Land Buddhist thought that traced to the time of Shakyamuni Buddha...
in Japanese Jodo Shinshu
Jodo Shinshu
, also known as Shin Buddhism, is a school of Pure Land Buddhism. It was founded by the former Tendai Japanese monk Shinran. Today, Shin Buddhism is considered the most widely practiced branch of Buddhism in Japan.-Shinran :...
Buddhism.
Tan-luan was originally a Buddhist scholar but after becoming ill he studied Taoism
Taoism
Taoism refers to a philosophical or religious tradition in which the basic concept is to establish harmony with the Tao , which is the mechanism of everything that exists...
in order to seek the Elixir of Life
Elixir of life
The elixir of life, also known as the elixir of immortality and sometimes equated with the philosopher's stone, is a legendary potion, or drink, that grants the drinker eternal life and or eternal youth. Many practitioners of alchemy pursued it. The elixir of life was also said to be able to create...
. However after an encounter with Bodhiruci
Bodhiruci
Bodhiruci was a Buddhist monk and esoteric master from North India . He became very active as a teacher following his arrival in Loyang, China in 508 ....
a Buddhist monk from India, Tan-luan became a devotee of the Pure Land
Pure land
A pure land, in Mahayana Buddhism, is the celestial realm or pure abode of a Buddha or Bodhisattva. The various traditions that focus on Pure Lands have been given the nomenclature Pure Land Buddhism. Pure lands are also evident in the literature and traditions of Taoism and Bön.The notion of 'pure...
teachings and, according to the Jodo Shinshu
Jodo Shinshu
, also known as Shin Buddhism, is a school of Pure Land Buddhism. It was founded by the former Tendai Japanese monk Shinran. Today, Shin Buddhism is considered the most widely practiced branch of Buddhism in Japan.-Shinran :...
hymn Shoshinge
Shoshinge
The Shōshinge or The Hymn of True Faith was written by the founder of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, Shinran. It consists of an outline of the Pure Land teaching according to Shinran's personal interpretation...
, burnt his Taoist
Taoism
Taoism refers to a philosophical or religious tradition in which the basic concept is to establish harmony with the Tao , which is the mechanism of everything that exists...
texts.
Tan-luan later wrote his commentaries on the Larger Sutra of Immeasurable Life
Infinite Life Sutra
The Infinite Life Sūtra, or Longer Sukhāvatīvyūha Sūtra is a Mahāyāna Buddhist sūtra, and the primary text of Pure Land Buddhism. It is the longest of the three major texts of Pure Land Buddhism...
. The commentaries taught that the all beings could be reborn in the Pure Land
Pure land
A pure land, in Mahayana Buddhism, is the celestial realm or pure abode of a Buddha or Bodhisattva. The various traditions that focus on Pure Lands have been given the nomenclature Pure Land Buddhism. Pure lands are also evident in the literature and traditions of Taoism and Bön.The notion of 'pure...
of Amitabha
Amitabha
Amitābha is a celestial buddha described in the scriptures of the Mahāyāna school of Buddhism...
Buddha through sincere recitation of the Buddha's name (Nianfo/Nembutsu). Tan-luan is also credited for having developed the six-character phrase "南無阿彌陀佛" （Namo Amituofo/Namu Amida Butsu) (from Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
to Chinese
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
) used throughout Pure Land Buddhism today.
Tan-luan also had a strong impact on the Fourth Patriarch, Tao-cho
Tao-cho
Tao-cho , who lived 562–645, was a Chinese Buddhist scholar of the Nirvana Sutra, but later became an eminent scholar of the Pure Land school. In Jodo Shinshu, he is considered the fourth Patriarch. According to legend, Tao-cho once visited the temple of Tan-luan, and read an inscription on the...
who once visited his temple.