Huayan zong

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The Huayan zong ( Chinese  華嚴 宗  /  华严 宗 , Pinyin Huáyán zōng , W.-G. Hua-yen tsung ; Sanskrit : Avatamsaka) in German also known as the Hua Yen or flower jewelry school , is a school of Chinese Buddhism founded in the 7th century . It is based on the Avatamsaka Sutra (also Buddhavatamsakasutra ) Chinese Huayan jing , as well as the philosophy of Madhyamika and Vijñānavāda . It went under in the Empire of China in the 10th century , but came under the name Hwaeom jong to Korea and then to Japan , where it took the name Kegon-shū .

Hua Yen Patriarchs in China

The Avatamsaka Sutra was first translated from Sanskrit into Chinese in 418-420 . This translation in 60 volumes allowed it to be widely disseminated and resulted in many monks in China studying it. An independent school was probably formed with Dushun, the 1st Patriarch of the Hua-Yen School. However, there are different views as to when Hua-Yen can be viewed as a tradition in its own right. Because up to the 13th century only the last three of the five Hua-Yen patriarchs were mentioned in writing. What is certain is that the first two patriarchs did not hold this title during their lifetime, but were only awarded it later.

Dushun (1st Patriarch)

Dushun ( Chinese  杜 順  /  杜 顺 , Pinyin Dùshùn , W.-G. Tu-shun ; 557–640) devoted himself very intensively to the Avatamsaka Sutra and geared his practice entirely to this teaching content. That is probably the reason why he was awarded the title of 1st Patriarch after his death.

He was originally from Van-nien. At the age of 18 he became a novice in the Yin-Seng Temple. He later traveled around the country teaching the Dharma . Two important writings from the Hua-Yen school are ascribed to Dushun. In Hua-yen-wu-chiao-chih-kuan the Buddhist texts are systematized for the first time (five teachings). In Hua-yen-fa-chieh-kuan-men , the basic philosophical knowledge of the Avatamsaka Sutra is summarized.

One of Dushun's disciples was Zhiyan, who later became the 2nd Patriarch.

Zhiyan (2nd Patriarch)

Zhiyan ( Chinese  智 儼  /  智 俨 , Pinyin zhìyǎn , W.-G. chih-yen ; 602–668) became a student of Dushun at the age of 12. He studied the Avatamsaka Sutra intensely and developed the concepts of the ten enigmatic gates and the six characteristics .

In the ten enigmatic gates he further developed the view of the Avatamsaka Sutra towards infinite mutual penetration. It explains that all dharmas abstain from one another. In every dharma there are an infinite number of dharmas. This concept can be briefly described as "all in one, one in all". He also showed a new perspective on the individual Buddhist traditions. Hinayana and Mahayana are not something different, but mutually permeated. The view of right and wrong dissolves. Everything is dharma. With that he coined the term of the one vehicle ( eka-yana ).

The six characteristics are a classification of all phenomena which, according to Zhiyan, have the following properties: the whole, the individual, the same, the distinguishable, the arising and the passing. The following example can be used to explain this: A country (the whole) consists of people, areas, etc. (the individual). Although these people are part of the country, it cannot be said that the country and the people are the same. The people are also different from the areas. However, it can be said that people, areas, etc. are related to the land. If the parts are in a mutual relationship and interact, then the whole continues to develop (what is created). However, if the parts cease to be related to each other, the whole disappears. The six characteristics broaden the view of interdependence in the Avatamsaka Sutra.

Only after his death did Zhiyan receive the title of 2nd Patriarch.

Fazang (3rd Patriarch)

Main article: Fazang

The third patriarch was Fazang ( Chinese  法 藏 , Pinyin Fǎzàng , W.-G. Fa-tsang ; 643-712). He was a student of Xuanzang and is considered the most important scholar of the Hua Yen philosophy.

He wrote comments on the then newly translated Avatamsaka Sutra in 80 volumes - but could not complete his work. He died in 712 - only two chapters of the commentary had been completed by this time. After his death, Huiyuan, a disciple of Fazang, continued the work. The completed commentaries, however, contradicted Fazang's teachings. Huiyuan reduced the division of Buddhist teachings from five to four by excluding the spontaneous teachings. As a result, Huiyuan was expelled from the Hua-Yen School.

Chengguan (4th Patriarch)

The title of 4th Patriarch was only given to Chengguan ( Chinese  澄觀  /  澄观 , Pinyin Chéngguān , W.-G. Ch'eng-kuan ; 737-838 / 9), who was born 26 years after Fazang's death. Chengguan studied the Avatamsaka Sutra and was a disciple of Da-hsien. He continued the work of Fazang and included Chan as a practice. Chengguan wrote commentaries on the then newly translated Avatamsaka Sutra in 80 volumes. He also translated the Avatamsaka Sutra in 40 volumes together with Prajna.

Zongmi (5th Patriarch)

The fifth patriarch was Zongmi ( Chinese  宗密 , Pinyin Zōngmì , W.-G. Tsung-mi ; 780-841). He originally studied Confucianism . When he met Chan Master Tao-an, he turned to Buddhism and became his disciple. At the age of 27, he became a novice in Da-Yuen Temple and practiced Chan Buddhism. He later read Chengguan's Commentaries on the Avatamsaka Sutra. He then became a student of Chengguan and studied the Avatamsaka Sutra for several years.

Although Zongmi also integrated many Chan elements into his teachings in addition to the Hua-Yen teachings, he was given the title of fifth patriarch.

literature

  • Torakazu Doi: Kegon Sutra. The Flower Garland Sutra. Volume I. Angkor Verlag, Frankfurt 2008; ISBN 978-3-936018-32-5 .
  • Torakazu Doi: Kegon Sutra. The Flower Garland Sutra. Volume II. Angkor Verlag, Frankfurt 2008; ISBN 978-3-936018-33-2 .
  • Chinul / Tsung-mi (Zongmi): Dharma collection . Angkor Verlag, Frankfurt 2011. PDF
  • Development of the Hua-Yen school during the tang dynasty , Ven. Hsien Du, Editor: Hua-yen Lotus Association, Taipei (2006)
  • Reflecting Mirrors, Perspectives on Huayan Buddhism , Hamar, Imre, Wiesbaden 2007, ISBN 978-3-447-05509-3
  • Cook, Francis H (1977), Hua-Yen Buddhism: The Jewel Net of Indra, Penn State Press, ISBN 0-271-02190-X
  • Thomas Cleary (trans.): The Flower Ornament Scripture: A Translation of the Avatamsaka Sūtra (1993). ISBN 0-87773-940-4
  • Thomas Cleary, Entry Into the Inconceivable: An Introduction to Hua-Yen Buddhism, University of Hawaii Press; Reprint edition 1995. ISBN 0824816978

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