Five houses of Chan
The five houses of Chan were the five major schools of Chan Buddhism that originated during the Tang dynasty (618 - 907) in China. Most Chan lineages throughout Asia and the rest of the world originally grew from or were heavily influenced by the original five houses of Chan.
Following a government suppression of Buddhism in 842, only two of the five schools emerged: Linji and Cao-dong.[1][2]
The five houses
The five houses were each defined by a unique method of teaching. Each school's methods were significantly different from the others, though it was not unheard of for teachers from one school to use the methods of another.[3]
Guiyang school
The Guiyang school was the first established school of the "five houses of Chan".[3] Guiyang is named after master Guishan Lingyou (771–854) (Kuei-shan Ling-yu, Jpn. Isan Reiyū) and his student, Yangshan Huiji (J. Kyōzan Ejaku).
Guishan was a disciple of Baizhang Huaihai, the Chinese Zen master whose disciples included Huangbo Xiyun (who in turn taught Linji Yixuan, founder of the Linji School).[4] After founding the Guiyang School, Yangshan moved his school to what is now modern Jiangxi.
The Guiyang school is distinct from the other schools due to its use of esoteric metaphors and imagery in the school's kōans and other teachings.[3]
Over the course of Song dynasty (960–1279), the Guiyang school, along with the Fayan and Yunmen schools were absorbed into the Linji school.
Linji school
The Linji school was named after Chan master Linji Yixuan, who was notable for teaching students in ways that included shouting and striking in an attempt to help students reach enlightenment. The Linji school is the predominant Chinese Chan school.[5]
Caodong school
The Caodong school was founded by Dongshan Liangjie and his Dharma-heirs in the 9th century. The sect emphasized sitting meditation, and later "silent illumination" techniques.
The Caodong teachings were introduced into Korea during the Silla period.
In 1227, the Japanese master Dōgen Zenji, a former Tendai student, studied Caodong Buddhism and returned to Japan to establish the Sōtō school.
Fayan school
The Fayan school (法眼宗) was named after Chinese Chán Master Fayan Wenyi (Fa-yen Wen-i), who lived from 885 to 958.
Yunmen school
The Yunmen school was named for Yunmen Wenyan. The school thrived into the early Song Dynasty, with particular influence on the upper classes, and culminated in the final compilation of the Blue Cliff Record. Later during the Song Dynasty, the school was absorbed into the Linji school.
The five houses during the Song dynasty
Over the course of Song dynasty (960–1279), the Guiyang, Fayan, and Yunmen houses were gradually absorbed into the Linji house. Caodong was transmitted to Japan in the 13th century from Ven. Rujing of Tiantong Temple to Ven. Dōgen leading to the creation of the Sōtō Zen school.
Notes
- ↑ Gethin 1998, p. 263.
- ↑ Harvey 2013, p. 222.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Ferguson, Andrew E. (2000). Zen's Chinese Heritage: The Masters and Their Teachings. Somerville MA: Wisdom Publications. pp. 126–127. ISBN 0-86171-163-7.
- ↑ Ven. Jian Hu. "Buddhism in the Modern World" Stanford University, May 25, 2006, p. 1
- ↑ Master Sheng-yen and Dan Stevenson (2001). Hoofprint of the Ox: Principles of the Chan Buddhist Path as Taught by a Modern Chinese Master. ISBN 9780195152487. Archived from the original on 11 January 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
Sources
- Ferguson, Andrew E. (2000), Zen's Chinese Heritage: The Masters and Their Teachings, Somerville MA: Wisdom Publications, pp. 126–127, ISBN 0-86171-163-7
Gethin, Rupert (1998), Foundations of Buddhism, Oxford University Press- Harvey, Peter (2013), An Introduction to Buddhism (Second ed.), Cambridge University Press
- Koole, Boudewijn (1997), Dōgen Kigen: De Schatkamer van het Oog van de Ware Leer. Eerste selectie uit de Shōbōgenzō, met toelichtende informatie, Utrecht/Antwerpen: Kosmos-Z&K Uitgevers
Further reading
- McRae, John (2003), Seeing Through Zen, The University Press Group Ltd
- Yampolski, Philip (2003a), Chan. A Historical Sketch. In: Buddhist Spirituality. Later China, Korea, Japan and the Modern World; edited by Takeuchi Yoshinori, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass
Five Houses of Chán, Wikipedia
