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THE FIVE PERIODS BUDDHISME
Nearly every Buddhist
school regards the order in which the Buddha Sakyamuni taught his
instruction in various ways. The following is The 5 periods of Classification
of the instructions of the Buddha, according to the P'
an Chiao of Chi'i - the Great Master of the Dharma, T'ien
T'ai (China, 538-597), that demonstrate the vastness of the sacred
teachings and doctrines of the Buddha Sakyamuni together with the
several resulting Buddhist schools as formed in Japan.
| No |
Name of Period: |
Total Years taught:
|
Sutras revealed: |
Characteristics of the period's teaching: |
Corrisponding Japanese Buddhist Schools: |
| 1 |
Kegon |
21 days |
Avatamsaka
Sutra (Kegon Sutra, Flower
Garland Sutra). |
These doctrines first
taught by the Buddha after his enlightenment under the Bodhi
(Pipal) tree, and considereed only second in complexity to the
Hokke-Nehan teachings and the Madhyamika doctrines. |
Kegon School |
| 2 |
Agon (Rokuon : Deer Park) |
12 years |
The
5 Agama Sutras of the Pali Canon:
1) Digha-nikaya (the
Long-Length Sutra);
2) Majjhima-nikaya
(the Medium Length Sutra);
3) Samyutta-nikaya
(the sutra of relative subjects);
4) Anguttara-nikaya
(the sutra of numerical doctrine);
5) Khuddaka-nikaya
(the minor sutras).
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The Vinaya (the
monastiche rules) related to
suffering, emptiness, impermanence and egolessness expounded
in order to emancipate people from the six lower realms of
hell, hunger, animality, anger, humanity and heaven.
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The Theravadan, and
Vinaya Saravastivada Schools of:
Jojitsu School
Kusha School
Ritsu School
Shingon-Ritsu School
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| 3 |
Hoto |
8 years |
1) Shomon (Shrimala) Sutra;
2) Gejimatsu Sutra (Revelation of the Profound and Secret
Teaching);
3) Yuima (Vimalakirti) Sutra;
4) The 3 Pure Land Sutras of: Muryoju
Sutra, Amitayus
Sutra (the Buddha of Infinite Light) and
Amida Sutra;
5) The 3 Esoteric Sutras of: Dainichi
Sutra, Kongocho Sutra and Soshitsuji Sutra. |
The introductory
Mahayana doctrines such as,
non-substantiality, alaya-consciousness , Pure
Land and esoteric (Tantric) teachings.
This period contains
the largest volume ofexpounded sutras. |
Hosso School
Ji
School (Pure Land,
founded by Ippen Shonin)
Jodo School (Pure Land,
founded by Honen Shonin)
Jodo Shin School (True Pure
Land, founded by Shinran Shonin)
Shingon School
Shingon-Ritsu School
The Zen Schools:
(Rinzai-shu, Soto-shu, Obaku-shu) |
| 4 |
Hannya |
22 years |
Hannya
Sutra (The Wisdom Sutras)
that include: Makahannya Haramitsu
Sutra (The Sutra of the Perfection of rgeet Wisdom),
Hannya Shin-Kyo (The Heart Sutra, or the
Essence of the Prajna-Paramita Sutra) |
These sutras were
taught
at Rajagriha, the Jetavana Monastry, the Bamboo Forest Monastery,
and other areas.
These sutras compose the advanced level of Mahayana, expouse
the supreme wisdom
and non-substantiality doctrines (the nullifying of
existence), and are studied
and practiced by many Japanese schools. |
Sanron School |
| 5 |
Hokke-Nehan |
8 years |
1) The Threfold Lotus Sutra Sutra of: Muryogi Sutra (Sutra of Infinite Meaning),
The Lotus Sutra and Fugen
Sutra;
2) The Nirvana Sutra |
The final instructions
of the Buddha that negates all the previous preliminary and
preparatory doctrines,
reveals the origins of the Buddha's illumination, and the potentiality
in every
being to become a Buddha. |
Nichiren-shu (and other Nichiren schools)
Tendai School |
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