Chengshi zong
Chengshi zong (J. Jōjitsushū; K. Sŏngsil chong 成實宗), aka Tattvasiddhi school, was a scholastic lineage of East Asian Buddhism focused on the study of the Chengshi lun, the Chinese translation of Harivarman's Tattvasiddhi.[1]
History
Chengshi lun translation
This Tattvasiddhi Śāstra was translated into Chinese in 411 by Kumārajīva, and given the title Chengshi lun. The Chinese translation (Chengshi lun) is the only extant version of this text.[1][2][3]
Developement of the Chengshi zong
The Chengshi lun "was studied widely in China during fifth and sixth centuries."[1] The prominence of this text gave rise to references to a Chengshi zong ("Chengshi school") to refer to the lineage of scholars who studied this text.
The Chengshi lun was initially promoted by three of Kumarajiva's students, Sengrui (ca. 4th-5th c. CE), Sengdao (僧導 362-457 CE) and Sengsong (僧嵩 date unknown).[4] Sengdao wrote a commentary on the text and his lineage was centered in Shouchun while the lineage of Sengson was centered in Pengcheng.[4]
Other major expounders of the Chengshi lun in China include the group named "Three Great Masters of the Liang dynasty": Sengmin (僧旻, 467–527), Zhizang (智蔵) (458–522) and Fayun (法雲, 467–529), who initially interpreted the sect as Mahayana in outlook.[2] The three of them in turn received instructions in this treatise from the monk Huici (慧次, 434–490). The three of them also possibly influenced the writing of the Sangyō Gisho, a sutra commentary supposedly authored by Prince Shōtoku.
The tradition of the Chengshi lun remained strong up until the Tang Dynasty; up to 24 commentaries were written on the text, all of which are now lost.[4] The Madhyamaka teacher Jizang (549–623) strongly criticized the work as "Hinayana" (lesser vehicle), and possibly due to the rise of new more influential schools such as the Huayan and Tiantai schools, the Chinese tradition of the Chengshi lun died out.[4]
Jōjitsu shū (transmission to Japan)
The Chengshi zong was introduced to Japan as Jōjitsu shū in 625 by the monk Ekwan of Goryeo, during the Nara period. Jōjitsushū was one six schools that were established in Japan during this period, which are collectively known as the Six Nara schools.
According to Takakusu, in Japan, Jōjitsu shū was classified as one of the three approaches of East Asian Mādhyamaka, instead of a separate lineage.[5]
Notes
Sources
Buswell, Robert E.; Lopez, Donald S. (2014), The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism, Princeton University- Lin, Qian (2015), Mind in Dispute: The Section on Mind in Harivarman’s *Tattvasiddhi (PDF) (Phd thesis), University of Washington
- Takakusu, Junjirō (2002), The Essentials of Buddhist Philosophy, Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 978-81-208-1592-6
