Monasteries and Academies Monasteries were important infrastructure in the Chinese Buddhist...

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Monasteries and Academies Monasteries were important infrastructure in the Chinese Buddhist tradition Monasteries flourished during the Tang and further developed during the Song The dramatic increase of Buddhist monasteries built by Chan monks led to the theory of “unique Chan monasteries,” which is misleading Similar constructions for spreading Confucianism were made into academies
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Transcript of Monasteries and Academies Monasteries were important infrastructure in the Chinese Buddhist...

Monasteries and Academies

• Monasteries were important infrastructure in the Chinese Buddhist tradition• Monasteries flourished during the Tang and

further developed during the Song• The dramatic increase of Buddhist monasteries

built by Chan monks led to the theory of “unique Chan monasteries,” which is misleading

• Similar constructions for spreading Confucianism were made into academies

The White-deer Grotto Academy

Buddhist MonasteriesBuddhist Monasteries

Two basic types: Two basic types: – Public: Monasteries of the ten directions (Public: Monasteries of the ten directions (shifang chashifang cha)—C)—C

han monasterieshan monasteries– Private: disciple-lineage cloisters (Private: disciple-lineage cloisters (jiayi yuanjiayi yuan)—Teaching m)—Teaching m

onasteries (onasteries (jiaojiao monasteries) and Vinaya monasteries monasteries) and Vinaya monasteries– merit cloisters (merit cloisters (gongde yuangongde yuan))

Emperors and Gov’t officials could convert a monastEmperors and Gov’t officials could convert a monastery from one type to antherery from one type to anther

More monasteries were designated as Chan monastMore monasteries were designated as Chan monasteries during the Song, although some Chan monasteries during the Song, although some Chan monasteries were designated as Teaching monasteries (eries were designated as Teaching monasteries ( jiajiaoo) )

Chan Monasteries

• Dominant Buddhist monastic institution in the Song: Five Mountains and Ten Temples

• The ground plan of Song Chan monasteries was modeled upon that of the imperial court• Main gate, Buddha hall, Buddha Vairocana Hal

l, dharma hall, abbot’s reception hall, private abbot’s quarters, meditation room, earth spirit hall, patriarchal hall, donors hall, acolytes’ quarters

Jingshan Monastery, the number one monastery in the Southern Song

The site of the original Jingshan Monastery

• The four deva kings were sometimes enshrined in main gate

• Main halls contained images of Guanyin and that of 500 or 16 arhats

• The personnel structure of a Chan mastery: an abbot, monks (nuns), novices, postulants, lay persons…

Functions of Halls

• Ceremonies were held in the Buddha halls, dharma halls, sangha halls, donors halls, and sutra reading halls.

• Some halls were dedicated to the worship of a specific Buddha or Bodhisattva:• Guanyin Hall, Vairocana Hall

• Patriarchal Hall was dedicated to the veneration of key patriarchs in the Chan lineage and former abbots

Xuanzhong si in the Shibi Mountain in Shanxi, Pure Land and Chan

AcademiesAcademies

Academies became extremely popular during Academies became extremely popular during the Southern Song because of the rise of Neo-the Southern Song because of the rise of Neo-ConfucianismConfucianism

Confucius and his disciples regained respect Confucius and his disciples regained respect and popularity with scholars and were installed and popularity with scholars and were installed in shrines at academies in shrines at academies

Many academies were named after their Many academies were named after their founders, thus the members of their founders, thus the members of their school/lineage were enshrined school/lineage were enshrined