The History and Architecture of Rinzai and Soto Sects Zen Buddhism

Antariksa

Zen Buddhism, introduced from China through the two main channels of Rinzai sect and Soto sect, quickly found a place in Japan in the Kamakura period (1182~1333). Myoan Esai[1] (1141~1215) introduced the Rinzai sect soon there after, the Soto sect was brought to Japan by Ehei Dogen[2] (1200~1253) in Joo 2 (1224). The two Zen sects (Rinzai and Soto) have different types of teachings. The Soto sect primarily cultivates Zazen (meditation in lotus posture. From za �sitting� and zen �meditation�), and Rinzai sect emphasizes koan[3].

Historical backgrounds

The historical backgrounds of the Rinzai and the Soto sect have different types of development. For instance, some Soto sect temples were built at the foot of mountains, while those of the Rinzai sect temples in Kyoto and Kamakura as well as gozan temples were concentrated inside the cities. The reason are that the Soto sect policy and thought were based entirely on the ideas of master Dogen, and that it had no relations with the political and economic power of that time. Therefore the income of Soto sect temple was low, and because of this, they were located near the mountain in areas remote from population.[4] In addition the Soto sect was popularizes for commoners or farmers (hyakusho) since it brought good solutions to problems of the poor people, who followed their faith.[5] The situation at that time was very different between the Soto sect and its rivals the Rinzai sect which was supported by the military government. However, Dogen would say in �Shobougenzo-zuimonki�, ��.Shall I fool people merely for the sake of material support? Since it would just tire me out, I fell no necessity to go.�[6] At that time, the samurai who took over the political power from the court in Kyoto acepted Zen Buddhism[7], in this case the Rinzai sect. And as, Esai received the patronage of the second Kamakura Shogun, Minamoto no Yoriie he was able to establish temples in Kamakura and in Kyoto. Therefore, Rinzai sect is more popular to the people in the higher ranks and the Shogun in comparison to the Soto sect.

The development of the temples

The architecture of Zen style (zenshuyou) was introduced from China during the Sung dynasty and was copied exactly for the monasteries of Soto and Rinzai sects in Japan. Many temples were founded by the Rinzai master Esai such as Shofuku-ji in the city of Hakata in Kenyu 6 (1195). The arrangement of the plan of this monastery is typically Sung style. After that, he became the first abbot of Jufuku-ji founded in Shoji 2 (1199) in Kamakura, and then Kennin-ji built in Kennin 2 (1202) located in Kyoto, both of which were to become part of the gozan system.

After his sojourn to China, Dogen was first active in small temples near Kyoto. He built the first independent Zen temple in Fukakusa Koshouhorin-ji in Katei 2 (1236) and later renamed Koushou-ji[8] which atracted a number of excellent disciples. Then he went deep into the mountains of Echizen at the invitation of the lay disciple Hatano Yoshishige. In the Genkan era (1234) the Daibutsu-ji was built then two years later the monastery was renamed Eihei-ji.[9] This temple became the center of Soto sect in japan.

The Architecture

The Zen complex is in general axial in plan and roughly symmetrically bilateral. This reflects the regimentation of the Zen monk�s daily life, in which each act is expected to contribute to an over all attitude of religious discipline.[10] The lay out of Tien-t�ung and Pei are of special significance because traces of their influence can be found in numerous Zen temples of Japan.[11] In the case of layout plan of Rinzai sect monasteries (gozan), not all of these monasteries used the south-north arrangement axis. For instance Nanzen-ji and Tenryu-ji monasteries, had used the east-west arrangement axis. The special arrangement of the plan of these two Rinzai sect monastery temples, gave encouragement towards a modification different from that of the Chinese plan layout. The other monasteries such as Kennin-ji. Tofuku-ji, Daitoku-ji, Shokoku-ji and Myoshin-ji have a layout plan whose arrangement is north-south direction. The Rinzai sect generally used the Zen style to bring an architecture order to the main buildings inside the monastery. On one hand, the Soto sect monastery temples are prototypes of shichidou garan[12](seven hall�s monastery) like the monastery of Tendosan in China. The layout of plan or Soto sect monasteries such as Eihei-ji (Echizen), Souji-ji (Noto) and Daijou-ji (Kaga) had different type of arrangement for each main building (sanmon, butsuden and hatto)[13] connected with kairo (corridors). The hatto (Dharma/Lecture hall) of Soto sect was originally derived from houjou architecture[14] and was transformed to what is called kyakuden gatta no hatto (kyakuden type hatto) or the doma style.[15] Inside the hatto the entire floors was covered with tatami and wooden boards. On the other hand, the hatto of Rinzai sect monasteries are not arranged with houjou architecture and the floor was covered entirely with floor tiles. Which is typical Zen style architecture.

The details of the kumimono (bracket complexes) of both sects are set up in the same arrangement. For Rinzai sect, all the main buildings (sanmon, butsuden, and hatto) in gozan monastery are set up with Zen style bracket complex. In contrast the bracket complex of Soto sect monastery (Eihei-ji) has only the sanmon and butsuden employing Zen style, while the butsuden was designed in Japanese style (wayou).

Copyright � 2009 by antariksa

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[1] The founder of Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism in Japan.

[2] The founder of Soto sect of Zen Buddhism in Japan.

[3] �These statements are used as subjects for meditation by novices in Zen monasteries. Koan are also used as a test of whether the disciple has really attained enlightenment. Helped by the koan study, sudents of Zen may open their minds to the truth� Japanese-English Buddhist Dictionary, Daito Shuppansha, p. 176. see also Zen Dictionary, pp. 64-68.

[4] Yokoyama, H., Zen no Kenchiku, p. 173.

[5] Shohaku, O., Dogen Zen, p. 181.

[6] Shohaku, O., Shoubougenzo-zuimonki, Book 2, 2-7, p. 81.

[7] Ibid., p. 81.

[8] Yokoyama, H., Op cit., p. 95. And see also Heinrich Dumoulin, Zen Buddhism A History: Japan, p. 59.

[9] Op cit., p. 28.

[10] Kazuo N. & Kazuo, H., What is Japanese Architecture, A Survey of Traditional japanese Architecture, p. 22.

[11] Heinrich, D., Zen Buddhism: A History, Japan., p. 223.

[12] Shichidou garan are sanmon, butsuden, hatto, tousu, yokushitsu, soudou and kuri. See Noboru Sugino, Kinsei kouki no Sotoshu no heimen to hatten katei, Kinsei Zenshu hondou no kenkyu (1), Journal of Architecture Planning and Environmental Engineering, AIJ, No. 407, January, 1990, p. 173. And see also Heinrich Dumoulin, Op cit., p. 224-225.

[13] Yokoyama, H., Op cit., p. 102. In this page there is a discription about the different plan layout of the three monasteries. In the case of Souji-ji monastery the butsuden called taishidou is not placed in one direction axis.

[14] See Matsumoto, S., Zenshu Jiin Hondou no Tokuchou, Nara Kokuritsu Bunkazai Kenkyushou, 1988, p. 176.

[15] Yokoyama, H., Op cit., p. 102.