Buddhism Quiz 4

Nagarjuna

Writes “The Fundamental Verses of the Middle”; wrote devotional hymns and epistles to local kings

Sukhavativyuha

“The Magnificent Display of the Land of Bliss”

Amitabha

Measureless Light

Amitayus

Measureless Lifespan

Amituofo

Measureless Buddha

buddhaksetra

“Buddha Field”; an especially pure planet or world created by a Buddha,
usually for the purpose of teaching

Huìyuǎn 慧遠

founds Pure Land Society in 402 CE; often seen as first monk to introduce Pure Land to China

Tanluan

Emphasized the “other ability” of Amitabha to supplement our failing “self-power”

Shandao

-Seen as incarnation of Amitabha in later Japanese tradition

• Emphasized decline of dharma, rituals of confession and repentance

• Urged 5 practices to build trust in Amitabha (chanting, meditating, name uttering, image worshiping, singing songs)

Southern Buddhism

“gentry Buddhism”; focused on Buddho-Daoist philosophy, distance between Buddhism and state

Northern Buddhism

close relationships between Buddhism and
the state, focus on magical powers of Buddhist monks, great
focus on karma and merit

Zhiyi

• Write 2 important commentaries on the Lotus Sutra

• Central concern: how can all Buddhist sutras be authoritative and true simultaneously?

Tiantai

Resolves potential contractions across Buddhist sutras; periodized, classified, and wove together interpretations to build comprehensive curriculum

Xuanzang

• known for exceedingly precise translation style

• translated major Abhidharma works into Chinese

Tang Dynasty Buddhism

• wealthy merchants and landowners donated vast money and land to tax-exempt Buddhist monasteries

• Temples, with their wealth, also acted as banks

• Monks and nuns exempt from taxes and forced labor

Buddhist Proscription of 845

• implemented by Emperor Wuzong

• state resources drained by war

• recapture of land, grain, metal, and slaves given to Buddhist monks and nuns

Song Dynasty

• Network of state-sponsored temples

• State sells ordination certificates to control membership of the sangha

• Chan Buddhism dominates

Chán Buddhism

• separate transmission outside the scriptures, not dependent on words and phrases

• direct transmission of authority from master to disciple

Gōng’àn

“A public case”; Short snippets of teaching moments attributed to Chán masters, often paradoxical, riddle-
like, or intended to undermine conceptual categories