Traces of a Dispute between Shandao and Jingang Visible in the Nianfo-jing: In Relation to the Anti-Sanjie-jiao Stance in Middle Tang Dynasty Pure Land Buddhism

Abstract

In Pure Land Buddhism during the middle of the Tang dynasty, there are many commonalities with the Sanjie-jiao (Three Stages sect). Of those, the most striking is the ideology of sect-founder worship. That is, just as we can confirm the deification of Xinxing (540–594), we can also see the worship of Shandao (613–681) in the Nianfo-jing in Pure Land Buddhism.

Since the foundation of the Sanjie-jiao precedes Pure Land Buddhism, it is thought that there is a high likelihood that Pure Land received this aspect from the Sanjie-jiao, but this is where the challenge at hand begins. Criticism to the Sanjie-jiao is seen in the Nianfo-jing. In the middle Tang dynasty, although Pure Land adherents criticised Sanjie-jiao, the former tried to assimilate the latter.

Furthermore, the traces of disputes between Shandao and Jingang (dates unknown) in the Nianfo-jing can be assumed to contain some symbolic attributes related to the external appearance of Pure Land. These are thought to be explicable by reading it from the perspective of mid-Tang dynasty Pure Land adherents’ view of the Sanjie-jiao. This paper will examine the traces of dispute seen in the Nianfo-jing, while relating it to its oppositional stance to the Sanjie-jiao, and explain the aspects of teacher worship in mid-Tang dynasty Pure Land Buddhism.