The Rinzai school ( ja, , Rinzai-shū, zh, t=臨濟宗, s=临济宗, p=Línjì zōng) is one of three sects of
Zen
Zen ( zh, t=禪, p=Chán; ja, text= 禅, translit=zen; ko, text=선, translit=Seon; vi, text=Thiền) is a school of Mahayana Buddhism that originated in China during the Tang dynasty, known as the Chan School (''Chánzong'' 禪宗), and ...
in
Japanese Buddhism (along with
Sōtō and
Ōbaku). The Chinese
Linji school of
Chan was first transmitted to
Japan by
Myōan Eisai (1141 –1215). Contemporary Japanese Rinzai is derived entirely from the
Ōtōkan
The is a lineage of the Rinzai school of Zen (a form of Japanese Buddhism). It was founded by Nanpo Shōmyō, who received the dharma in China in 1265 and returned to Japan in 1267.
It is centered at the temple complexes of Myōshin-ji (founded ...
lineage transmitted through
Hakuin Ekaku (1686–1769), who is a major figure in the revival of the Rinzai tradition.
History
Rinzai is the Japanese line of the
Chinese Linji school, which was founded during the
Tang dynasty
The Tang dynasty (, ; zh, t= ), or Tang Empire, was an imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907 AD, with an interregnum between 690 and 705. It was preceded by the Sui dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdo ...
by
Linji Yixuan (Japanese: Rinzai Gigen).
Kamakura period (1185–1333)
Though there were several attempts to establish Rinzai lines in Japan, it first took root in a lasting way through the efforts of the monk
Myōan Eisai. In 1168,
Myōan Eisai traveled to China, whereafter he studied
Tendai for twenty years. In 1187, he went to China again, and returned to establish a Linji lineage, which is known in Japan as
Rinzai.
Decades later, (1235–1308) also studied Linji teachings in China before founding the Japanese
Ōtōkan
The is a lineage of the Rinzai school of Zen (a form of Japanese Buddhism). It was founded by Nanpo Shōmyō, who received the dharma in China in 1265 and returned to Japan in 1267.
It is centered at the temple complexes of Myōshin-ji (founded ...
lineage, the most influential and only surviving branch of Rinzai.
The time during which Rinzai Zen was established in Japan also saw the rise of the
samurai
were the hereditary military nobility and officer caste of History of Japan#Medieval Japan (1185–1573/1600), medieval and Edo period, early-modern Japan from the late 12th century until their abolition in 1876. They were the well-paid retai ...
to power. Along with early imperial support, Rinzai came to enjoy the patronage of this newly ascendant warrior class.
Muromachi (or Ashikaga) period (1336–1573)
During the
Muromachi period
The is a division of Japanese history running from approximately 1336 to 1573. The period marks the governance of the Muromachi or Ashikaga shogunate (''Muromachi bakufu'' or ''Ashikaga bakufu''), which was officially established in 1338 by ...
, the Rinzai school was the most successful of the schools because it was favoured by the ''
shōgun
, officially , was the title of the military dictators of Japan during most of the period spanning from 1185 to 1868. Nominally appointed by the Emperor, shoguns were usually the de facto rulers of the country, though during part of the Kamakur ...
''. The school may be said to have truly flowered and achieved a distinctly Japanese identity with
Shūhō Myōchō (aka
Daitō Kokushi 1283–1337) and
Musō Soseki (1275–1351), two influential Japanese Zen masters who did not travel to China to study.
Five Mountain System
In the beginning of the Muromachi period, the system was fully worked out. The final version contained five temples of both Kyoto and Kamakura, presided over by
Nanzen-ji. A second tier of the system consisted of Ten Temples. This system was extended throughout Japan, effectively giving control to the central government, which administered this system. The monks, often well educated and skilled, were employed by the ''shōgun'' for the governing of state affairs.
Rinzai-monasteries
Not all Rinzai Zen organisations were under such strict state control. The Rinka monasteries, which were primarily located in rural areas rather than cities, had a greater degree of independence. The Ōtōkan lineage, which centered on
Daitoku-ji, also had a greater degree of freedom. It was founded by Nanpo Shōmyō, Shūhō Myōchō, and Kanzan Egen. A well-known teacher from Daitoku-ji was
Ikkyū.
Another Rinka lineage was the Hotto lineage, of which
Bassui Tokushō is the best-known teacher.
Tokugawa (1600–1868)
By the 18th century, the Rinzai school had entered a period of stagnation and decline. At that time, the monk
Hakuin Ekaku (1686–1769) became prominent as a revitalizer and organizer of Rinzai Zen, and his vigorous methods spearheaded a long-lasting revival. Hakuin's systemization of the
kōan training system serves today as the framework of formal Rinzai practice.
Hakuin and his heirs
Most Rinzai lineages pass through
Hakuin Ekaku (1685-1786), the 18th century revivalist, who considered himself to be an heir of Shōju Rōnin (Dokyō Etan, 1642–1721), though Hakuin's formal dharma transmission from Shōju Rōnin entails some unanswered questions,.
When he was installed as head priest of Shōin-ji in 1718, he had the title of ''Dai-ichiza'', "First Monk":
Another influential figure in the 18th century Rinzai revival was
Tōrei Enji
(8 May 1721 - 10 April 1792) was an eminent Japanese Zen Buddhist monk, teacher, author, painter and calligrapher. He was the chief disciple and Dharma heir of famed Japanese Rinzai master Hakuin Ekaku (1685-1786) and was a major figure in the r ...
(1721–1792), a major student of Hakuin and an influential author, painter and calligrapher.
[Joskovich, Erez Hekigan. ''The Inexhaustible Lamp of Faith: Faith and Awakening in the Japanese Rinzai Tradition.'' Japanese Journal of Religious Studies 42/2:319-338. Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture.] He is the author of the influential ''The Undying Lamp of Zen'' (''Shūmon mujintō ron''), which presents a comprehensive system of Rinzai training.
[Cleary, Thomas (2010). ''The Undying Lamp of Zen: The Testament of Zen Master Torei,'' Shambhala Publications, p. viii.]
All contemporary Rinzai-lineages stem from Inzan Ien (1751–1814) and Takujū Kosen (1760–1833), both students of
Gasan Jitō (1727–1797). Gasan is considered to be a dharma heir of Hakuin, though "he did not belong to the close circle of disciples and was probably not even one of Hakuin's dharma heirs".
Through Hakuin, all contemporary Japanese Rinzai-lineages are part of the
Ōtōkan
The is a lineage of the Rinzai school of Zen (a form of Japanese Buddhism). It was founded by Nanpo Shōmyō, who received the dharma in China in 1265 and returned to Japan in 1267.
It is centered at the temple complexes of Myōshin-ji (founded ...
lineage, brought to Japan in 1267 by
Nanpo Jomyo, who received his dharma transmission in China in 1265.
Meiji Restoration (1868–1912) and Imperial Expansionism (1912–1945)
During the
Meiji period
The is an era of Japanese history that extended from October 23, 1868 to July 30, 1912.
The Meiji era was the first half of the Empire of Japan, when the Japanese people moved from being an isolated feudal society at risk of colonization ...
(1868–1912), after a coup in 1868, Japan abandoned its feudal system and opened up to Western modernism.
Shinto
Shinto () is a religion from Japan. Classified as an East Asian religion by scholars of religion, its practitioners often regard it as Japan's indigenous religion and as a nature religion. Scholars sometimes call its practitioners ''Shintoist ...
became the state religion, and Buddhism adapted to the new regime. Within the Buddhist establishment the Western world was seen as a threat, but also as a challenge to stand up to.
A Rinzai university was founded in 1872,
Hanazono University, initially as a seminary for those entering the priesthood. Hanazono University has grown to become the major Rinzai higher education institution in Japan.
Post-war (1945–present)
Modern Rinzai Zen is made up of 15 sects or branches.
Some influential modern Rinzai figures include
Ōmori Sōgen (大森 曹玄, 1904–1994),
Sōkō Morinaga
was a Rinzai Zen roshi. He was head of Hanazono University and abbot of Daishu-in in Kyoto, one of the sub-temples of the Ryōan-ji temple complex.
Biography
He began his Zen training in his early twenties at Daishuin under Goto Zuigan, ...
(盛永 宗興, 1925–1995),
Shodo Harada (原田 正道),
Eshin Nishimura (西村 惠信; born 1933),
Keidō Fukushima (福島 慶道, 1933 – 2011) and
D.T. Suzuki (鈴木 大拙 貞太郎, 1870–1966).
Literary Sources
Rinzai is a
Mahayana
''Mahāyāna'' (; "Great Vehicle") is a term for a broad group of Buddhist traditions, texts, philosophies, and practices. Mahāyāna Buddhism developed in India (c. 1st century BCE onwards) and is considered one of the three main existing bra ...
Buddhist tradition which draws from the various Indian
Mahayana sutras
The Mahāyāna sūtras are a broad genre of Buddhist scriptures ('' sūtra'') that are accepted as canonical and as ''buddhavacana'' ("Buddha word") in Mahāyāna Buddhism. They are largely preserved in the Chinese Buddhist canon, the Tibe ...
(like the ''
Diamond Sutra'' and the ''
Heart Sutra'') and shastras (treatises) of the Indian masters. Apart from this, Rinzai also closely studies the works of the
Chinese Chan
Chan (; of ), from Sanskrit '' dhyāna'' (meaning "meditation" or "meditative state"), is a Chinese school of Mahāyāna Buddhism. It developed in China from the 6th century CE onwards, becoming especially popular during the Tang and So ...
tradition, particularly that of the masters of the
Linji school like
Linji Yixuan (d. 866) and
Dahui Zonggao
Dahui Zonggao (1089–10 August 1163) (; Wade–Giles: Ta-hui Tsung-kao; Japanese: Daie Sōkō; Vietnamese: Đại Huệ Tông Cảo) was a 12th-century Chinese Chan (Zen) master. Dahui was a student of Yuanwu Keqin (Wade–Giles: Yuan-wu K' ...
(1089–1163) and various traditional records of that school, like the ''
Transmission of the Lamp,'' and the ''Línjì yǔlù'' (臨濟語錄; Jp: ''Rinzai-goroku'', ''the Record of Linji'')''.''
Important Japanese sources of the Rinzai school include the works of
Hakuin Ekaku and his student
Tōrei Enji
(8 May 1721 - 10 April 1792) was an eminent Japanese Zen Buddhist monk, teacher, author, painter and calligrapher. He was the chief disciple and Dharma heir of famed Japanese Rinzai master Hakuin Ekaku (1685-1786) and was a major figure in the r ...
. Torei's ''Undying Lamp of Zen'' (''Shūmon mujintō ron'') presents a comprehensive Rinzai path as it existed at the time of Hakuin and is a major source for Rinzai Zen practice. A more modern overview of Japanese Rinzai praxis is
Omori Sogen's ''Sanzen Nyumon (An Introduction to Zen Training).''
Practice
Rinzai Zen is marked by the emphasis it places on ''
kenshō
''Kenshō'' (見性) is a Japanese term from the Zen tradition. ''Ken'' means "seeing", ''shō'' means "nature, essence". It is usually translated as "seeing one's (true) nature", that is, the Buddha-nature or nature of mind.
Kenshō is an ...
'' (見性, "seeing one's true nature" or "to see clearly into the
buddha-nature
Buddha-nature refers to several related Mahayana Buddhist terms, including '' tathata'' ("suchness") but most notably ''tathāgatagarbha'' and ''buddhadhātu''. ''Tathāgatagarbha'' means "the womb" or "embryo" (''garbha'') of the "thus-go ...
") as the gateway to authentic
Buddhist practice.
[Moore (2018), pp. 9-10.] Rinzai also stresses the importance of post-kensho spiritual training which allows one to actualize awakening and embody it for the benefit of all beings.
Another central element of Rinzai Zen practice is the student's relationship with a Zen teacher, which includes the formal practice of ''
sanzen'', a private interview between student and master and the various methods of "direct pointing" which are used by Rinzai masters to guide the student to the experience of kensho.
Formal Rinzai training focuses on
zazen (seated meditation). Various practices such as different forms of breath meditation (such as breath counting,
diaphragmatic breathing and
tanden breath cultivation),
kōan introspection,
wato, and
mantra practice (such as using the mantric syllable Ah) are used in zazen.
Various other non-seated practices like
walking meditation (Jp. ''kinhin''),
ōryōki
''Ōryōki'' ( ja, 応量器) (, ja, はったら, hattara), is a transliteration of Sanskrit ', also called ''應量器'' ( zh, p=yìng liàng qì), means "vessel that contains just enough" is a set of nested bowls and other eating utensils for ...
(a meditative meal practice), and
samu
Samu or SAMU may refer to:
Places
* Samu, Sierra Leone
* Samu, South Khorasan, a village in South Khorasan Province, Iran
* As-Samu, a town in the Hebron Governorate of the West Bank
* Samu, Sarawak, Malaysia, a settlement near Kerangan Pinggai
* ...
(physical work done with
mindfulness
Mindfulness is the practice of purposely bringing one's attention to the present-moment experience without evaluation, a skill one develops through meditation or other training. Mindfulness derives from Sati (Buddhism), ''sati'', a significant ...
) are a part of rinzai zen cultivation. The practicing of chanting (''okyo'')
Buddhist sutras
Buddhist texts are those religious texts which belong to the Buddhist tradition. The earliest Buddhist texts were not committed to writing until some centuries after the death of Gautama Buddha. The oldest surviving Buddhist manuscripts a ...
or
dharanis is also a major element of Rinzai practice.
When engaged in formal zazen, kōans are a common object of meditation, while ''
shikantaza'' ("just sitting") is less emphasized in rinzai, but
still used. This contrasts with Sōtō practice, which has de-emphasized kōans since
Gentō Sokuchū
Gentō Sokuchū () was a Sōtō Zen priest and the 50th abbot of Eihei-ji, the school's head temple. He was part of a 17th and 18th century movement within the Sōtō school that sought to bring the school's teachings back in line with those of t ...
(circa 1800), and instead emphasizes shikantaza.
The Rinzai school developed its own formalized style of ''
kōan'' introspection and training. This includes a standardized curriculum of ''
kōans
A (; , ; ko, 화두, ; vi, công án) is a story, dialogue, question, or statement which is used in Zen practice to provoke the "great doubt" and to practice or test a student's progress in Zen.
Etymology
The Japanese term is the Sino-Jap ...
'', which must be studied and "passed" in sequence. This process may include standardized questions (''sassho'') and common sets of "capping phrases" (''
jakugo'') or poetry citations that are memorized by students as answers. A student's understanding of a kōan is presented to the teacher in a private interview (''
dokusan'', ''daisan'', or ''sanzen'') and the teacher's job is to guide the student to kensho, in part by judging the student's ''
kyōgai
''Kyōgai'' ( ja, 境界) is a concept in Zen Buddhism for a person's state of mind. ''Kyōgai'' is a Japanese word and does not have a direct English translation, but it is often variously described as a person's state of being, or more specifi ...
''. Kōan-inquiry may be practiced during ''
zazen'' (sitting meditation)'',
kinhin'' (walking meditation), and throughout all daily activities.
In general, the Rinzai school is known for the rigor and severity of its training methods. The Rinzai style may be characterized as somewhat martial or sharp (following in the spirit of
Linji Yixuan). Since the adoption of rinzai zen by the
Hōjō clan
The was a Japanese samurai family who controlled the hereditary title of ''shikken'' (regent) of the Kamakura shogunate between 1203 and 1333. Despite the title, in practice the family wielded actual political power in Japan during this period ...
in the 13th century, some rinzai figures have even developed the
samurai
were the hereditary military nobility and officer caste of History of Japan#Medieval Japan (1185–1573/1600), medieval and Edo period, early-modern Japan from the late 12th century until their abolition in 1876. They were the well-paid retai ...
arts (''
budō'') within a zen framework. One influential figure was the Rinzai priest
Takuan Sōhō who was well known for his writings on zen and ''
budō'' addressed to the
samurai
were the hereditary military nobility and officer caste of History of Japan#Medieval Japan (1185–1573/1600), medieval and Edo period, early-modern Japan from the late 12th century until their abolition in 1876. They were the well-paid retai ...
class (see ''
The Unfettered Mind''). In this regard, Rinzai is often contrasted with another sect of zen deeply established in Japan,
Sōtō, which has been called more gentle and even rustic in spirit. A Japanese saying reflects these perceptions: "Rinzai for the
Shōgun
, officially , was the title of the military dictators of Japan during most of the period spanning from 1185 to 1868. Nominally appointed by the Emperor, shoguns were usually the de facto rulers of the country, though during part of the Kamakur ...
, Sōtō for the peasants" (臨済将軍、曹洞土民, ''Rinzai Shōgun, Sōtō Domin'').
The Rinzai school also adopted certain Taoist energy cultivation practices. They were introduced by
Hakuin (1686–1769) who learned them from a hermit named Hakuyu. These energetic practices are called ''naikan.'' They are mainly based on focusing the mind and one's vital energy (''
ki'') on the ''
tanden'' (a spot slightly below the navel).
Certain Japanese
arts
The arts are a very wide range of human practices of creative expression, storytelling and cultural participation. They encompass multiple diverse and plural modes of thinking, doing and being, in an extremely broad range of media. Both ...
such as
painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a solid surface (called the "matrix" or "support"). The medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush, but other implements, such as knives, sponges, and ai ...
,
calligraphy,
poetry
Poetry (derived from the Greek '' poiesis'', "making"), also called verse, is a form of literature that uses aesthetic and often rhythmic qualities of language − such as phonaesthetics, sound symbolism, and metre − to evoke meanings ...
,
gardening
Gardening is the practice of growing and cultivating plants as part of horticulture. In gardens, ornamental plants are often grown for their flowers, foliage, or overall appearance; useful plants, such as root vegetables, leaf vegetables, fr ...
, and the
tea ceremony are also often used as methods of zen cultivation in rinzai.
Hakuin is famously known for his
''sumi-e'' (ink and wash) paintings as well as for his
calligraphy.
Myōan Eisai is said to have popularized green tea in Japan and the famed master of Japanese tea,
Sen no Rikyū (1522–1591), was also trained in rinzai.
Contemporary Rinzai schools
Rinzai Zen in Japan today is not a single organized body. Rather, it is divided into 15 branches (or 16, if Ōbaku is included), referred to by the names of their head temples, of which half are based in
Kyoto
Kyoto (; Japanese: , ''Kyōto'' ), officially , is the capital city of Kyoto Prefecture in Japan. Located in the Kansai region on the island of Honshu, Kyoto forms a part of the Keihanshin metropolitan area along with Osaka and Kobe. , the ...
(8, plus Ōbaku). The largest and most influential of these is the
Myōshin-ji branch, whose head temple was founded in 1342 by
Kanzan Egen (1277–1360). Other major branches include
Nanzen-ji and
Tenryū-ji (both founded by
Musō Soseki),
Daitoku-ji (founded by
Shūhō Myōchō), and
Tōfuku-ji (founded by
Enni Ben'en
Enni Ben'en (圓爾辯圓, pinyin: ''Yuán'ěr Biànyuán''; 1 November 1202 – 10 November 1280), also known as Shōichi Kokushi, was a Japanese Buddhist monk. He started his Buddhist training as a Tendai monk. While he was studying with ...
, 1202–1280). These branches are purely organizational divisions arising from temple history and teacher-student lineage, and do not represent sectarian divides or fundamental differences in practice. There are nevertheless small differences in the way kōans are handled.
These head temples preside over various networks, comprising a total of approximately six thousand temples, forty monasteries, and one nunnery. The Myōshin-ji branch is by far the largest, approximately as big as the other branches combined: it contains within it about three thousand five hundred temples and nineteen monasteries.
Japanese Rinzai schools
The 15 branches of Rinzai, by head temple, are:
*
Kennin-ji (1202)
*
Tōfuku-ji (1236, founded by
Enni Ben'en
Enni Ben'en (圓爾辯圓, pinyin: ''Yuán'ěr Biànyuán''; 1 November 1202 – 10 November 1280), also known as Shōichi Kokushi, was a Japanese Buddhist monk. He started his Buddhist training as a Tendai monk. While he was studying with ...
, 1202–1280)
*
Kenchō-ji (1253)
*
Engaku-ji (1282)
*
Nanzen-ji (1291, founded by
Musō Soseki)
*
Kokutai-ji (1300)
*
Daitoku-ji (1315, founded by
Shūhō Myōchō)
*
Kōgaku-ji (1380)
*
Myōshin-ji (sect founded 1337, temple founded in 1342 by
Kanzan Egen)
*
Tenryū-ji (1339, founded by
Musō Soseki)
*
Eigen-ji (1361)
*
Hōkō-ji (1384)
*
Shōkoku-ji (1392)
*
Buttsū-ji
is a Buddhist temple head one of fourteen autonomous branches of the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism, founded in 1397 by the lord of Mihara; Kobayakawa Haruhira; its first Abbot was Buttoku Daitsu Zenji. The temple is named after its honorary fou ...
(1397, affiliated with Tenryū-ji until 1905)
*
Kōshō-ji (1603)
[ 興聖寺 ][上京区の史蹟百選,区民誇りの木/興聖寺,ケヤキ]
(100 Selected Historic Sites of Kamigyō ward, Ward Citizen's Pride Trees/Kōshō-ji, Keyaki)
Western Rinzai
A number of Rinzai lines have been transplanted from Japan to Europe, the Americas, and Australia, and non-Japanese practitioners have been certified as teachers and successors of those lineages. Rinzai temples, as well as practice groups led by lay practitioners, may now be found in many nations.
North American Rinzai centers include
Rinzai-ji founded by
Kyozan Joshu Sasaki Roshi and the
Pacific Zen Institute founded by
John Tarrant Roshi in California,
Dai Bosatsu Zendo Kongo-ji
Dai Bosatsu Zendo Kongo-ji, or International Dai Bosatsu Zendo Kongo-ji, is a Rinzai monastery and retreat center located in the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York. Maintained by the Zen Studies Society, Dai Bosatsu Zendo Kongo-ji is led by ...
established by
Eido Shimano
was a Rinzai Zen Buddhist roshi. He was the founding abbot of the New York Zendo Shobo-Ji in Manhattan and Dai Bosatsu Zendo Kongo-Ji monastery in the Catskill mountains of New York; he was forced to resign from that position of 40 years aft ...
Roshi and
Soen Nakagawa Roshi in New York,
Chozen-ji founded by
Omori Sogen Roshi
was a Japanese Rinzai Rōshi, a successor in the Tenryū-ji line of Rinzai Zen, and former president of Hanazono University, the Rinzai university in Kyoto, Japan. He became a priest in 1945.
Biography
Ōmori Sōgen was a teacher of Kashima S ...
in Hawaii,
Daiyuzenji
Daiyuzenji is a Rinzai Zen Buddhist temple located on the north side of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States.
Daiyuzenji began in 1982 as the Illinois ''betsuin'' (branch temple) of Daihonzan Chozen-ji, a Rinzai headquarters temple founded ...
in
Illinois
Illinois ( ) is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolitan areas include, Peoria and Roc ...
and
Korinji in
Wisconsin
Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...
both founded by
dharma heirs in
Omori Sogen Roshi's line, and
Chobo-Ji founded by
Genki Takabayshi Roshi in Seattle, Washington.
In Europe there is
Havredal Zendo
Havredal Zendo (English: Oats Vally Zendo) - Cho-An is a Buddhist temple, in the Rinzai Zen tradition, founded by Choan Denko Mokudo Bertelsen (Egmund Sommer / Denko Møller / John Mortensen). Cho-An is the first Zen temple building to be establi ...
established by a
Dharma Heir of Eido Shimano, Egmund Sommer (Denko Mortensen).
Related Japanese Zen schools
Obaku
Aside from Rinzai and Sōtō, there is a third tradition of Zen present in Japan, the
Ōbaku Zen sect. It was brought to Japan in the 17th century, and shows significant influence from the
Pure Land
A pure land is the celestial realm of a buddha or bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism. The term "pure land" is particular to East Asian Buddhism () and related traditions; in Sanskrit the equivalent concept is called a buddha-field (Sanskrit ). T ...
school. This reflects the syncretistic tendencies that developed in Chinese Buddhism in the centuries after the earlier Rinzai lines had been transmitted to Japan.
Ōbaku is also descended from the Chinese Linji school, and so technically may be considered a part of the Japanese Rinzai movement; further, its abbots are now part of the same
Ōtōkan
The is a lineage of the Rinzai school of Zen (a form of Japanese Buddhism). It was founded by Nanpo Shōmyō, who received the dharma in China in 1265 and returned to Japan in 1267.
It is centered at the temple complexes of Myōshin-ji (founded ...
lineage as Rinzai branches, though they were not so originally (instead following a more recent Chinese lineage). While
Manpuku-ji, the Ōbaku headquarters temple, is considered one of the 15 Rinzai branches mentioned above, Ōbaku Zen is administratively separate from the other 14 branches and continues to maintain its own distinct identity.
Fuke
A final Japanese Zen sect that self-identified as descending from the Linji school was the
Fuke sect; Fuke Zen was suppressed with the
Meiji Restoration in the 19th century and no longer exists. Its influence on the development of music for the
shakuhachi (bamboo flute), however, has been great.
Ichibata Yakushi Kyodan
Ichibata Yakushi Kyodan
Ichibata Yakushi Kyōdan is an independent school of Buddhism in Japan which places great importance on what they term ''genze riyaku'' (faith) in Yakushi (Medicine Buddha). Previously affiliated with the Tendai and then the Myōshin-ji branch of ...
(properly written Ichiba Yakushi Kyōdan 一畑薬師教団) is today generally considered an independent school of Buddhism, though it was previously associated with Myōshin-ji (and before that
Tendai), and may still be considered part of Rinzai, though its practices and beliefs have little in common with Rinzai. It places great importance in faith in
Yakushi (Medicine Buddha), and is known as a destination for healing.
Cultural influence
Remarkable results of the early relationship between Rinzai Zen and the ruling classes were a strong Rinzai influence on education and government, and Rinzai contributions to a great flowering of Japanese cultural arts such as
calligraphy,
painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a solid surface (called the "matrix" or "support"). The medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush, but other implements, such as knives, sponges, and ai ...
,
literature
Literature is any collection of written work, but it is also used more narrowly for writings specifically considered to be an art form, especially prose fiction, drama, and poetry. In recent centuries, the definition has expanded to inclu ...
,
tea ceremony,
Japanese garden design,
architecture
Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and constructing buildings ...
and even
martial arts. A perhaps unanticipated result is that Soto Zen temples, with their connection and appeal to commoners, eventually came to outnumber Rinzai temples.
See also
*
Linji Yixuan
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Zen
Zen ( zh, t=禪, p=Chán; ja, text= 禅, translit=zen; ko, text=선, translit=Seon; vi, text=Thiền) is a school of Mahayana Buddhism that originated in China during the Tang dynasty, known as the Chan School (''Chánzong'' 禪宗), and ...
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Ōbaku (school of Buddhism)
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Hakuin Ekaku
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External links
Official site of The Joint Council for Japanese Rinzai and Obaku Zen (both Japanese and English language)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rinzai School