Classical or Middle Chan – Tang dynasty (c. 750–1000) Chan Buddhism

1 classical or middle chan – tang dynasty (c. 750–1000)

1.1 lu-shan rebellion
1.2 hung-chou school
1.3 shitou xiqian
1.4 great persecution
1.5 5 dynasties , ten kingdoms period (907–960/979)

classical or middle chan – tang dynasty (c. 750–1000)

daoxin, hongren, shenxiu, huineng , shenhui lived during tang. later period of tang dynasty traditionally regarded golden age of chan. proliferation described in famous saying:

look @ territory of house of tang —
the whole of realm of chan school.

an lu-shan rebellion

the lushan rebellion (755–763) led loss of control tang dynasty, , changed chan scene again. metropolitan chan began lose status, while other schools arising in outlying areas controlled warlords. these forerunners of chan know today. origins obscure; power of shen-hui s preaching shown fact trace hui-neng.

hung-chou school


rinzai

the important of these schools hongzhou school (洪州宗) of mazu, belong shitou, baizhang huaihai, huangbo , linji (rinzai). linji regarded founder of 1 of 5 houses.

this school developed shock techniques such shouting, beating, , using irrational retorts startle students realization . of these common today, while others found in anecdotes. common in many chan traditions today chan teachers have stick them during formal ceremonies symbol of authority , can used strike on table during talk.

these shock techniques became part of traditional , still popular image of chan masters displaying irrational , strange behaviour aid students. part of image due later misinterpretations , translation errors, such loud belly shout known katsu. katsu means shout , has traditionally been translated yelled katsu – should mean yelled yell .

a well-known story depicts mazu practicing dhyana, being rebuked teacher nanyue huairang, comparing seated meditation polishing tile. according faure, criticism not dhyana such, idea of becoming buddha means of practice, lowered standing of means achieve end . criticism of seated dhyana reflects change in role , position of monks in tang society, undertook pious works, reciting sacred texts , remaining seated in dhyana . nevertheless, seated dhyana remained important part of chan tradition, due influence of guifeng zongmi, tried balance dhyana , insight.

the hung-chou school has been criticised radical subitism. guifeng zongmi (圭峰 宗密) (780–841), influential teacher-scholar , patriarch of both chan , huayan school, claimed hongzhou school teaching led radical nondualism denies need spiritual cultivation , moral discipline. while zongmi acknowledged essence of buddha-nature , functioning in day-to-day reality difference aspects of same reality, insisted there difference.

shitou xiqian

traditionally shítóu xīqiān (ch. 石頭希遷, c. 700 – c.790) seen other great figure of period. in chan lineages regarded predecessor of caodong (sōtō) school. regarded author of sandokai, poem formed basis song of precious mirror samadhi of dongshan liangjie (jp. tōzan ryōkan) , teaching of 5 ranks.

the great persecution

during 845–846 emperor wuzong persecuted buddhist schools in china:

it desperate attempt on part of hard-pressed central government, had been in disarray since lu-shan rebellion of 756, gain measure of political, economic, , military relief preying on buddhist temples immense wealth , extensive lands.

this persecution devastating metropolitan chan, chan school of ma-tsu , likes survived, , took leading role in chan of later tang.

five dynasties , ten kingdoms period (907–960/979)

after fall of tang dynasty, china without effective central control during 5 dynasties , ten kingdoms period. china divided several autonomous regions. support buddhism limited few areas. hua-yen , t ient-tai schools suffered changing circumstances, since had depended on imperial support. collapse of t ang society deprived aristocratic classes of wealth , influence, meant further drawback buddhism. shenxiu s northern school , henshui s southern school didn t survive changing circumstances. nevertheless, chan emerged dominant stream within chinese buddhism, various schools developing various emphasises in teachings, due regional orientation of period. fayan school, named after fa-yen wen-i (885–958) became dominant school in southern kingdoms of nan-t ang (jiangxi, chiang-hsi) , wuyue (che-chiang).

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