The six schools of Japan in Nara period

by Hbr

Buddhism flourished during Nara period. One of the characteristics of this period is that
Buddhism was introduced from China. In China was Tang dynasty, that was the golden age of
Chinese Buddhism, the main schools arose during this time. Japan opened to the influence of
Chinese culture, and Buddhism was incorporated. All the schools from China were introduced
in Japan without changes. Nor only Buddhism was introduced but Confucianism and art too.
Many aspects of Chinese culture were introduced in the capital, Nara. For example, painting
and sculpture were modeled directed from Tang capital.
Emperor Shomu was the great emperor of Nara period. He supported Buddhism in many ways.
He built temples, invited monks to teach, sent student to learn to China and brought Buddhist
texts. He was the great patron of Buddhism of Nara. The government gave all necessary to
spread Buddhism throughout Japan.
During this time, the more important text of Shintoism was composed, the Kojiki and the
Nishonki. Other important text composed were the Waka (creation of Japanese poetry) and
kaifusu (poems in Chinese wrote by emperors).
All the important Chinese buddhist schools developed during Tang dynasty were introduced to
Japan during Nara period. The emperors promoted Buddhism as part of state religion, and they
had a strong connection with China. The six Buddhist school from China were introduced in
this time: Kusha, Jojitsu, Sanron, Hosso, Kegon and Ritsu School.
Hosso, Kegon and Sanron belong to Northern tradition of Buddhism and Kusha Jojitsu and Risu
belong to Southern tradition.
These schools were the same that existed in China, and there were not new elements of
Japanese belief. The syncretism with local cult and religion was after Nara period.