Chinese Esoteric Buddhism
In the fifth century, a text called the Modengqie jing arrived in China. Zhu Lüyan translated this work containing dhāraņīs into Chinese. This marked one of the earliest appearances of tantric materials on Chinese soil. The use of mantras and dhāraņīs dates back to at least the second century in India. These early practices traveled along the Silk Road and Southeast Asian Maritime trade routes. They linked Chinese Buddhism with Indian, South Asian, and Indonesian traditions. Early Chinese Buddhists like Fotudeng served emperors using these rituals. His death occurred around 348 CE. By the sixth century, mandalas appeared in China as well.
During the Tang dynasty, three great masters came from India between 716 and 720. Śubhakarasiñha lived from 637 to 735. Vajrabodhi lived from 671 to 741. Amoghavajra lived from 705 to 774. They established the Zhenyan tradition under Emperor Xuanzong. Amoghavajra became the most influential figure among them. He translated the largest number of texts after Xuanzang. He performed rituals for the royal family. He taught disciples from Japan and Korea. He was the first to receive Tang imperial titles. Major texts introduced included the Vairocanābhisañbodhi Sūtra and the Vajrasekhara Sutra. These works brought esoteric Buddhism to its height of popularity in China. The tradition began to be seen as a distinct system with special rites of consecration called abhisheka.
Amoghavajra assisted the Tang state against the An Lushan rebellion. In 756, Chang'an was occupied by rebels while the emperor fled to Sichuan. Amoghavajra stayed in the capital to perform Vajrayana rituals. His rituals were intended to introduce death, disaster, and disease against An Lushan's army. One general named Zhou Zhiguang died during this conflict. After victory in 759, Emperor Suzong was crowned cakravartin by Amoghavajra. He invoked the Acala vidyaraja against the enemy. The crown prince Li Heng received secret military information through messages sent by Amoghavajra. This assistance made Esoteric Buddhism the official state Buddhist sect. It received state funding for writing scriptures and constructing monasteries. Even after the Great Anti-Buddhist Persecution in 845 CE, Zhenyan practices continued into the early Song Dynasty.
Master Kūkai traveled from Japan to Tang China before the persecution began. He lived from 774 to 835. He learned complete esoteric teachings from Master Huiguo between 746 and 805. Kūkai claimed he mastered these teachings in two years before returning home. The transmission became Shingon Buddhism in Japan. This school is often called Dōmì or Eastern Esoterica because Japan lies east of China. Kūkai established the temple Tō-ji in Kyoto. Another lineage emerged as Tendai Buddhism brought by Saichō who lived from 767 to 822. These two systems form the main forms of Esoteric Buddhism in Japan. Esoteric Buddhism also entered the Korean kingdom of Goryeo which existed from 918 to 1392. Pilgrims visited centers like Qinglong Temple and Daxingshan Temple during this era.
The Mongol Empire rose in the thirteenth century with Möngke Khan ruling from 1209 to 1259. After conquering China, Yuan emperors made Tibetan Buddhism the official religion. Lamas of the Sakya school like Sakya Pandita became imperial preceptors. They were granted unprecedented status and privileges such as temple offerings. Mahakala served as a protector deity for military campaigns against China. A common perception among Chinese literati was that patronage caused corrupt forms of tantra to spread. When the Ming dynasty began in 1368, lamas were expelled from court. Vajrayana was denounced as sorcery and licentiousness. Despite attacks, Tibetan Vajrayana continued to spread after the Yuan fell. The Yongle Emperor invited Deshin Shekpa, the fifth Karmapa Lama, to court between 1402 and 1424. He carved printing blocks for the first printed Kangyur known thus far.
During the Republic of China period from 1912 to 1949, monks sought to revitalize weakened traditions. Nenghai lived from 1886 to 1967 and Master Fazun lived from 1902 to 1980. These figures played major roles in spreading Tibetan Buddhism and translating scriptures into modern Chinese. Dayong traveled to Japan between 1893 and 1929 to learn complete teachings of Tang Mysteries. Most work was severely damaged by the Cultural Revolution. Since the 1980s and 1990s, activity has grown in mainland China again. Qinglong Temple in Xi'an serves as an ancestral temple where Huiguo originally taught Kōbō Daishi. Jing'an Temple in Shanghai was founded by Master Chisong who trained as an acharya in Shingon. Many centers now derive orthodoxy from Japanese masters while establishing distinct Chinese lineages. Organizations like the Mantra School Bright Lineage operate in Taiwan and Hong Kong.
Continue Browsing
Common questions
When did the Modengqie jing arrive in China and who translated it?
The text called the Modengqie jing arrived in China during the fifth century. Zhu Lüyan translated this work containing dhāraņīs into Chinese.
Who were the three great masters from India that established Zhenyan tradition under Emperor Xuanzong between 716 and 720?
Śubhakarasiñha lived from 637 to 735, Vajrabodhi lived from 671 to 741, and Amoghavajra lived from 705 to 774. These three figures came from India to establish the Zhenyan tradition under Emperor Xuanzong.
How did Esoteric Buddhism become the official state Buddhist sect of Tang dynasty after the An Lushan rebellion in 759?
Amoghavajra assisted the Tang state against the An Lushan rebellion by performing Vajrayana rituals intended to introduce death, disaster, and disease against the enemy army. After victory in 759, Emperor Suzong was crowned cakravartin by Amoghavajra, which made Esoteric Buddhism the official state Buddhist sect receiving state funding for writing scriptures and constructing monasteries.
When did Master Kūkai travel from Japan to Tang China and what lineage did he establish upon returning home?
Master Kūkai traveled from Japan to Tang China before the persecution began and lived from 774 to 835. He learned complete esoteric teachings from Master Huiguo between 746 and 805 and established Shingon Buddhism in Japan.
What happened to Tibetan Buddhism when the Ming dynasty began in 1368 and how did it continue despite attacks?
When the Ming dynasty began in 1368, lamas were expelled from court and Vajrayana was denounced as sorcery and licentiousness. Despite these attacks, Tibetan Vajrayana continued to spread after the Yuan fell, with the Yongle Emperor inviting Deshin Shekpa, the fifth Karmapa Lama, to court between 1402 and 1424.