Buddhism in Japan, and Nara and Heian:
Nara was similar to China’s capital Chang’an, which was based on canonical Confucian text. It is interesting that Heian’s model deviated from Nara and Chang’an, as it does not have any walls to border off the city. In one of the readings [of State Sponsorship and Control of Buddhism], it explores how religion was used in order to control people. From Emperor Shomu in, the Shoku Nihongi in Rikkokushi III they have erected an “image of Lochana Buddha in gold and copper.” He hoped that others will join in the way to “Buddhahood,” and that all who join must be pure and sincerely pious in order to receive blessings and pay daily homage to the statue. The Emporer is also sympathetic to those who cannot pay, and have nothing to offer, writing that the officials and authorities should not bother them; Buddhism was used in order to control the people. It instilled social values [being pure and pious], and also accepted those that were impoverished. It would help the Emperor to be on good terms with the people, and to keep himself and the state in control while feigning equality. The people and the Emporer are only equal in their paths to Enlightenment, but the Emperor still has control over the people. I did not know how intricate Buddhism was. I was aware that there were separate sects, but the division between Nara and Heian Buddhism, with Kukai and Tendai and Shingon, helped me to understand the divisions of Buddhism further. I was vaguely aware of the four noble truths (suffering, the origins of suffering, the end of suffering, and the truth of the path). We also got to see the Heian mandalas, and while I knew that mandalas were a traditional Indian art form, it was cool to see how Buddhism was able to mesh into traditional Japanese culture/art/beliefs. With the mandalas, it is clear that it stays true to Indian mandalas because it retains a geometric form and symmetry. But unlike the figures in Indian mandalas, the figures drawn in Japanese mandalas draw from traditional practices. The figures relate more to typical Japanese art, showing how they have been able to utilize their own practices in Buddhism. Seeing the different Buddhist temples were also impressive. It shows how Japan was able to embrace the religion, and still be able to use their own aspects of culture and merge everything together.
Sources of Japanese Tradition, Volume One: From Earliest Times to 1600 2nd edition, edited by William Th. de Bary. New York: Columbia University Press, 2002. http://docs.tdh.bergbuilds.domains/267/hst267-4-1-narra_buddhism.pdf
