Introduction: Buddhism began in India, and then became part of Chinese culture. In 518 CE, Buddhism came into Japan from Korea and later from China. Prince Shotoku brought Buddhist priests and teachers from China and this made a lasting change in Japanese culture. Buddhism became an even more important part of Japanese culture during the Nara period (710 - 790 A.D.) and after.
Japan during the Nara period, however, was primarily an agricultural and village-based society. Most Japanese lived in pit houses and worshipped the kami of natural forces and ancestors. Building a capital city on the model of a Chinese capital created a split between the Japanese aristocracy (wealthy ruling class) and the Japanese farming population. The Nara capital was a break of the Japanese aristocracy from their Japanese roots. Buddhism was a religion mostly for the wealthy, at first.
After a few hundred years, Buddhism had changed to become the religion of the samurai and other lower classes. At first "enlightenment" depended upon reading of the sacred texts. But a new kind of Buddhism became popular in Japan - Zen Buddhism. This religion preached enlightenment not through knowledge or study, but through meditation. Since anyone could meditate, Buddhism was more open to all classes in society.
This change also brought about changes in architecture and art. Religious architecture - building of shrines - emphasized peaceful meditation. Gardens and simple buildings became popular.
A. Buddhism - What is a Buddhist Temple Like?
It was in Nara that Buddhism first appeared in Japan. In 752 the world's largest bronze statue of Buddha, Diabutsu, was completed in the Todai-ji Temple. The statue is fifty-two feet high and weighs 452 tons! It is housed in the largest wooden building in the world.
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Most Buddhist temples are small. Inside the temple there will be at least one statue of the Buddha. There may be other statues of other "enlightened ones" (buddhas) called bohdisattvas. Bodhisattvas are buddhas that have not gone to Nirvana (like "heaven"), but have stayed behind on earth to help other people become enlightened. They are honored as great teachers.
Often the buddha or bodhisattva will be shown sitting on a lotus flower. The lotus is a symbol of purity in Buddhism because it is a beautiful flower that grows up out of the mud. (It shows that people can grow up to achieve purity even though they come from ugly situations.)
The Buddha will often have long earlobes which represent spiritual wisdom. [Some believe that elongated ears show that Siddhartha was once a prince and had heavy earrings that pulled down his earlobes. After he gave up his wealth, he still had elongated ears.]
He may have a "dot" or "eye of wisdom" in the center of his forehead which also represents wisdom or the ability to see beyond this world. His hair style will often show a "top-knot" on the top of the head which symbolizes great mental power and the soul's loose attachment to the body. His hand positions are important, too. Sometimes he touches the ground as if making a contact with the world.
Outside the temple there are often two fierce guardian spirits that stand on the left and right side of the door. They represent two warriors who protect the Buddha against all evil. They stand on clouds and have threatening poses.
[Learn more about Nio Guardians and the legend of how they came into being. Image of Nio Guardian figure, about 1360 AD courtesy of Minneapolis Institute of Arts.]
Many temples (especially Zen Buddhist temples) include a garden. These places are for peaceful meditation and connecting to nature.
Garden in Hase. [Photo from an American
tourist.]
Visit a Temple or Zen Center in Japan
and see More Buddha statues and art
B. How can I practice meditation as done in Zen Buddhism? (Pictures from How to Practice Zen site.)
1. "Gassho" is a greeting with the palms held together. It shows "one mind" with the person or statue of Buddha being greeted. It is done at the beginning of meditation.
2. In meditation you should face a wall or away from other people. Bow toward one side of the room. Then turn and bow toward the other side.
3. This is a seated position for meditation. Sit on the cushion quietly. Cross your feet like this:
4. Sit up straight and put your hands together. Put your hands together like this:
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5. Keep your eyes partly open without focusing on anything. Breathe in and out deeply and slowly.
Do not concentrate on anything and you will become tranquil (peaceful). You can keep out distractions by focusing on your meditation and breathing.
A bell is rung to signal the end of your meditation in a temple.
Sometimes monks have chants that help them get into a meditation. It is almost like hypnotism.
See How to Practice Zen for more information.
C. How did Buddhist monks live? Life in a Buddhist Monastery:
Boys joined a monastery between the ages of 5 - 12 years old, and many were from very high ranking families. Their heads would be shaven and they would wear a simple robe. (This showed that they had given up wealth or worldly pleasures.) They studied about 5 - 10 years with the monks and practiced meditation along with other school subjects such as reading/writing, reading of Buddhist texts, learning of rituals and ceremonies, and some temple schools included art and music.
Japanese Buddhist Monk in traditional clothing selling flowers on the street [Alexander's Website]
Monks and monks in training did manual work (work done by hand) at the monastery, such as cleaning, cooking, and making repairs. There were times for studying and for meditation.
Monks cooked their own food. The ingredients were totally vegetarian. They could not eat meat of any kind because that would represent the taking of a life. The morning meal consisted of rice, pickles, and salted plum. For the midday meal, it was cooked barley, miso soup, and pickles. The evening meal was made up of leftovers from the morning and midday meals. There were strict rules and manners observed for eating.
Monks also depended upon charity from the general population. At certain times of the year, the monks would go outside the monastery with a "begging bowl" and ask for rice and vegetables to eat. They would walk slowly in single file down the streets chanting and receiving offerings of food and money for the monastery.
Learn more about the life of buddhist
monks and nuns:
A
Japanese Buddhist nun.