Huiyuan (Chinese: 慧遠; Wade–Giles: Hui-yüan; 334–416 AD) was a Chinese Buddhist teacher who founded Donglin Temple on Mount Lushan in Jiangxi province and wrote the text On Why Monks Do Not Bow Down Before Kings in 404 AD. He was born in Shanxi province but after a long life of Buddhist teaching he wound up in Jiangxi province, where he died in 416. Although he was born in the north, he moved south to live within the bounds of the Eastern Jin Dynasty.
Huiyuan
Huiyuan was posthumously named First Patriarch of the Pure Land School of Buddhism. His disciples included Huiguan (慧觀), Sengji (僧濟), and Faan (法安).
Huiyuan began studying the Zhuangzi and Laozi at a young age, as well as the teachings of Confucius. However, at the age of 21 he was converted in Hebei Province by the Buddhist Dao An, who was a Chinese disciple of a Kuchan missionary. Hearing the sermons of Dao An convinced Huiyuan to "leave the family" and embark on a life of Buddhist teachings.[1] Later, he became a patriarch of Donglin Temple (East Forest Temple) at Mount Lushan. His teachings were various, including the vinaya (戒律), meditation (禪法), abhidharma and Prajna or wisdom. Although Huiyuan did not take the initiative in establishing the relations with the secular world, he had contacts with court and gentry families. Huiyuan was on two occasions invited by the dictator Huan Xuan to take part in the discussions about the status of the clergy and Huiyuan defended the independence of the clergy. Members of the cultured classes came to live on Mount Lu as Huiyuan's lay disciples to take part in the religious life. Besides his teaching and interaction with lay followers of the Buddhist faith, he also upheld a learned correspondence with the monk Kumarajiva.[2]
In the year 402 he organized a group of monks and lay people into a Mahayana sect known as Pure Land Buddhism, the Pure Land being the western paradise of the Buddha Amitabha.[3]
In the year 404, Huiyuan wrote a treatise On Why Monks Do Not Bow Down Before Kings (沙門不敬王者論).[4] This book symbolized his efforts to assert the political independence of Buddhist clergy from the courts of monarchic rulers. At the same time, it was a religious and political text that aimed to convince monarchs and Confucian-minded ministers of state that followers of Buddhism were ultimately not subversive. He argued that Buddhists could make good subjects in a kingdom due to their beliefs in retribution of karma and the desire to be reborn in paradise. Despite the Buddhists' reputation of leaving their family behind for a monastic life, Huiyuan stated "those who rejoice in the Way of the Buddha invariably first serve their parents and obey their lords."[1]
^ abEbrey, Cambridge Illustrated History of China, 97.
^Jones, Charles B. (2008). Evidence from His Correspondence with Kumārajīva About Nianfo Practice, 周文廣 - Chung-Hwa Buddhist Journal 21, 175-191
^Shinko Mochizuki, Leo M. Pruden,Trans. (2001). , Chapter 3: Hui-yuan of Mt.Lu, Pacific World Journal, Third Series, Number 3, 251
^For a translation, see Leon Hurvitz, " 'Render unto Caesar' in Early Chinese Buddhism," Sino-Indian Studies, V, 4 (Santininketan), 80-114.
References
Bary, Theodor de (1999). Huiyuan: A monk does not bow down before a king. In: Sources of Chinese tradition, vol. I, New York: Columbia University Press, pp 280–286
Ebrey, Patricia Buckley (1999). The Cambridge Illustrated History of China. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Tanaka, Kenneth Kenichi (1990). The dawn of Chinese pure land Buddhist doctrine : Ching-ying Hui-yuan's Commentary on the Visualization sutra, Albany : State University of New York Press
Zheng, Changji (972). "The Tale of Master Yuan of Mount Lu". In Mair, Victor H.; Steinhardt, Nancy S.; Goldin, Paul R. (eds.). Hawai'i Reader in Traditional Chinese Culture. Translated by Sen, Tansen; Mair, Victor H. Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press (published 2005). pp. 304–339. ISBN0824827856.
Zürcher, E. and Teiser, Stephen F. (2007). Buddhist Conquest of China : The Spread and Adaptation of Buddhism in Early Medieval China (3rd Edition). Boston, MA: Brill Academic Publishers, pp. 204–53.
January 10, 2023
huiyuan, buddhist, huiyuan, chinese, 慧遠, wade, giles, yüan, chinese, buddhist, teacher, founded, donglin, temple, mount, lushan, jiangxi, province, wrote, text, monks, down, before, kings, born, shanxi, province, after, long, life, buddhist, teaching, wound, j. Huiyuan Chinese 慧遠 Wade Giles Hui yuan 334 416 AD was a Chinese Buddhist teacher who founded Donglin Temple on Mount Lushan in Jiangxi province and wrote the text On Why Monks Do Not Bow Down Before Kings in 404 AD He was born in Shanxi province but after a long life of Buddhist teaching he wound up in Jiangxi province where he died in 416 Although he was born in the north he moved south to live within the bounds of the Eastern Jin Dynasty Huiyuan Huiyuan was posthumously named First Patriarch of the Pure Land School of Buddhism His disciples included Huiguan 慧觀 Sengji 僧濟 and Faan 法安 Contents 1 Life 2 See also 3 Notes 4 ReferencesLife Edit Donglin Temple at Mount Lushan The Three Laughers of Tiger Ravine Huiyuan Tao Yuanming and Lu Xiujing Soga Shōhaku 1730 1781 Huiyuan began studying the Zhuangzi and Laozi at a young age as well as the teachings of Confucius However at the age of 21 he was converted in Hebei Province by the Buddhist Dao An who was a Chinese disciple of a Kuchan missionary Hearing the sermons of Dao An convinced Huiyuan to leave the family and embark on a life of Buddhist teachings 1 Later he became a patriarch of Donglin Temple East Forest Temple at Mount Lushan His teachings were various including the vinaya 戒律 meditation 禪法 abhidharma and Prajna or wisdom Although Huiyuan did not take the initiative in establishing the relations with the secular world he had contacts with court and gentry families Huiyuan was on two occasions invited by the dictator Huan Xuan to take part in the discussions about the status of the clergy and Huiyuan defended the independence of the clergy Members of the cultured classes came to live on Mount Lu as Huiyuan s lay disciples to take part in the religious life Besides his teaching and interaction with lay followers of the Buddhist faith he also upheld a learned correspondence with the monk Kumarajiva 2 In the year 402 he organized a group of monks and lay people into a Mahayana sect known as Pure Land Buddhism the Pure Land being the western paradise of the Buddha Amitabha 3 In the year 404 Huiyuan wrote a treatise On Why Monks Do Not Bow Down Before Kings 沙門不敬王者論 4 This book symbolized his efforts to assert the political independence of Buddhist clergy from the courts of monarchic rulers At the same time it was a religious and political text that aimed to convince monarchs and Confucian minded ministers of state that followers of Buddhism were ultimately not subversive He argued that Buddhists could make good subjects in a kingdom due to their beliefs in retribution of karma and the desire to be reborn in paradise Despite the Buddhists reputation of leaving their family behind for a monastic life Huiyuan stated those who rejoice in the Way of the Buddha invariably first serve their parents and obey their lords 1 See also EditBuddhism in China Chinese philosophyNotes Edit a b Ebrey Cambridge Illustrated History of China 97 Jones Charles B 2008 Was Lushan Huiyuan a Pure Land Buddhist Evidence from His Correspondence with Kumarajiva About Nianfo Practice 周文廣 Chung Hwa Buddhist Journal 21 175 191 Shinko Mochizuki Leo M Pruden Trans 2001 Pure Land Buddhism in China A Doctrinal History Chapter 3 Hui yuan of Mt Lu Pacific World Journal Third Series Number 3 251 For a translation see Leon Hurvitz Render unto Caesar in Early Chinese Buddhism Sino Indian Studies V 4 Santininketan 80 114 References EditBary Theodor de 1999 Huiyuan A monk does not bow down before a king In Sources of Chinese tradition vol I New York Columbia University Press pp 280 286 Ebrey Patricia Buckley 1999 The Cambridge Illustrated History of China Cambridge Cambridge University Press Tanaka Kenneth Kenichi 1990 The dawn of Chinese pure land Buddhist doctrine Ching ying Hui yuan s Commentary on the Visualization sutra Albany State University of New York Press Zheng Changji 972 The Tale of Master Yuan of Mount Lu In Mair Victor H Steinhardt Nancy S Goldin Paul R eds Hawai i Reader in Traditional Chinese Culture Translated by Sen Tansen Mair Victor H Honolulu University of Hawai i Press published 2005 pp 304 339 ISBN 0824827856 Zurcher E and Teiser Stephen F 2007 Buddhist Conquest of China The Spread and Adaptation of Buddhism in Early Medieval China 3rd Edition Boston MA Brill Academic Publishers pp 204 53 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Huiyuan Buddhist amp oldid 1098661519, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
