Differences between Chinese and Japanese Pure Land Buddhism

[KiwiNFLFan]

I've just come back from a vacation to Japan, where I visited a number of Buddhist temples, including Higashi Honganji, one of the two head temples of Jodo Shinshu. I attended a morning service at another Jodo Shinshu temple in Tokyo and really liked it.

On the other hand, I have very little experience with Chinese Pure Land Buddhism. I did come across the concept when I lived in Malaysia almost 10 years ago, but didn't learn much about it.

Are there many differences between the two traditions? I know they both believe in devotion to Amitabha Buddha, but what else is different? I suspect there will be liturgical differences as well. But apart from that, what are the main differences? Are there practices that are done in one tradition but not the other? What about vegetarianism? I know that most Japanese Buddhists eat meat and that vegetarianism is significant among Chinese Buddhists (who have had "fake meat" for hundreds of years).

Also, is the Japanese concept of ta-riki or "other power" (i.e. relying totally on Amitabha Buddha to take you to the Pure Land) present in Chinese Buddhism?

[Admin_PC]

It’s hard to generalize, because there’s some variation but Chinese Pure Land tends to not be quite as exclusive. Whether it’s exclusive nembutsu, exclusively focusing on Amida, or exclusive Other Power. For example, at Ven Chin Kung’s Amitabha Society branches, they recite the Ksitigarbha Sūtra once a month.

Ta-Riki = 他力, yes it exists in Chinese Pure Land. Some teach that Pure Land works as a combination of Self Power and Other Power, others not as much on the Self Power. Nobody does exclusive Other Power to the extent of Shin Buddhists though.

Vegetarianism is a lot more common in Chinese Pure Land. Chinese Pure Land clergy are celibate monks. Chinese Pure Land stresses the 4 sutras, 1 chapter, and 1 commentary rather than the 3 sutras. Other sutras are also studied and practiced.

[rory]

Don't forget Tendai; Genshin was a great teacher of Pure Land Buddhism!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genshin

The Japanese Tendai tradition continued the common trend of syncretism practiced by the Chinese T'ien-t'ai tradition and most schools of Chinese Buddhism...
In such a way, Pure Land thought and practice developed in Japanese Tendai alongside the four teachings of hokke-engyo , Tantra, the Precepts, and Ch'an. These five teachings were merged into the teaching of the Three Vehicles United as One (ichijo-kai-e).
The Kamakura period (1192-1333) marked a strong departure from this syncreticism with the establishment of new, uniquely Japanese schools focused around the idea of a single, exclusive practice.
http://www.jsri.jp/English/Honen/LIFE/T ... pment.html
gassho
Rory

[Sentient Light]

Don't forget Tendai; Genshin was a great teacher of Pure Land Buddhism!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genshin

The Japanese Tendai tradition continued the common trend of syncretism practiced by the Chinese T'ien-t'ai tradition and most schools of Chinese Buddhism...
In such a way, Pure Land thought and practice developed in Japanese Tendai alongside the four teachings of hokke-engyo , Tantra, the Precepts, and Ch'an. These five teachings were merged into the teaching of the Three Vehicles United as One (ichijo-kai-e).
The Kamakura period (1192-1333) marked a strong departure from this syncreticism with the establishment of new, uniquely Japanese schools focused around the idea of a single, exclusive practice.
http://www.jsri.jp/English/Honen/LIFE/T ... pment.html
gassho
Rory

Fascinating, thanks! It is interesting, that description of Tendai pretty much sounds like Vietnamese Buddhism overall, so I think drawing a line between contemporary mainland Buddhism and Japanese Tendai makes a great deal of sense to me.