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- Japanese Buddhism
Buddhism from Korea had spread to Japan in 552 or 538
AD, at the start of the Gregorian calendar, when King Kudara
dedicated a Sakyamuni statue made in bronze, together with a
number of scriptures and religious objects to Emperor Kim Mei.
After about 50 years after the first official entry of Buddhism.
Prince Shotoku Taishi became King (574-622 AD). He had built
many beautiful monasteries in Nara and its vicinity. Among them
was the Horyyuji monastery, which still exists today. The prince
was a scholar who wrote explanations for many scriptures such as
the Pundarika, Srimala, and Vimalakirti Sutras.
At that time, Buddhism had not been clearly divided into
many sects as today. Six Schools of Buddhism were introduced
in Japan and flourished during the Nara period. They were
Abhidharma- Koram Satya-Siddhi, Hosso Shu (Fa- Siang-
Tsoung), Sanronshu (San- Lun-Tsoung), and Kegonshu (Hoa-
Yen- Tsoung). The schools provided a forum for learning
literature, philosophy, science, religion and culture. As such,
they were regarded as an endless treasure that motivated all
artistic activities.
The Buddhist monasteries were managed by monks and
financed by the imperial court. They served as schools, hospitals,
pharmacies, orphanages and nursing homes. The growth of
Buddhism in its initial stage had been nurtured with such a high
cost that, by the 8th century it became a burden to the country. It
was partly due to the selfishness of the privileged monks and
nuns, and partly due to the importance put on trivial items of
display rather than on major issues. Buddhism of Nara started to
shift in another direction and soon was replaced by Buddhism of
Helan (Peaceful Buddhism).