13 Buddhist Sects in Japan

Posted by Bill Belew on June 2nd, 2007 in Japan | Comments Off

The way I understand it there are two main branches of Buddhism.

Hinayana Buddhism which looks for self-enlightenment or emancipation by becoming a priest or sacrificing all and living in a temple.

Mahayana Buddhism came from China and Korea to Japan and is based on the idea that all people are equal and salvation comes by faith in the Buddha…whatever salvation means.

Mahayana Buddhism is the Buddhism of Japan though the reader should be sure that Japanese to not practice Buddhism in their daily lives or go faitfully to temples in hopes of finding salvation.

Faith in the Christian sense implies a life style – I act this way because I believe in such and such.

Buddhism is more of an influence in Japan, something to be called upon when people die, or are born. It permeates the Japanese culture more than the individual, except in that culture influences behavior.

I have NEVER heard a Japanese say, "I do such and such or don't do such and such because I am Buddhist."

There are at least 13 sects of Buddhism in Japan –

1. Kegonjapan.regions.gif

2. Hosso

3. Ritsu

4. Tendai

5. Shingon

6. Jodo

7. Jodo Shin

8. Ji

9. Yuzu Nembutsu

10. Nichiren

11. Rinzai

12. Soto

13. Obaku

Only a Buddhist priest might be able to tell you the difference and that might be wishful thinking.

I had a Buddhist priest friend once and I asked him what sect he was…kind of like what denomination of Christianity or what flavor of Jesus, flavor of Buddha and I was met with silence.


 

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