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Tendai-shu
Esoteric and Exoteric Lineages
In this particular context,
"exoteric" means those teachings developed within the
framework of Tendai Lotus Sutra studies, while "esoteric"
refers to those based on the Ta-jih ching, Chin-kang-ting
ching, and other sutras describing esoteric ritual practices.
In reality, however, even the "exoteric" teachings of
medieval Tendai contain esoteric elements.
the
13 Tendai Esoteric Schools
the Sanmai
School
The lineage of the Sanmai
school which Honen received from Koen is, in chronological order:
Kokei, Angei, Choen, Ryoyu, Chujin, Een, Joen, Koen and Honen.
Within this tradition of the Sanmai line, there were three particularly
important scholars: Kokei, Choen and Ryoyu. Kokei (977-1049) had
founded a school of esotericism called the Tani school, from which
most schools of Tendai esoteric teachings subsequently derived.
Forty-three works are attributed to him. Choen (1016-1081) was
Kokei's disciple, and his name appears in the esoteric lineages
of Homan and Renge, as well as that of Sanmai. Thirty-two works
are attributed to him, among which are the Ohara kuketsu,
the Taizokai daikanjo hyoshiki, the Shijoketsu,
and others. Ryoyu was the founder of the Sanmai school. His initial
studies were conducted under Kokei, and later under Angei and
Choen. Twenty-one works are attributed to him.
the
Renge school
The lineage of the Renge
school is as follows: Kokei, Choen, Eii, Ryonin, Eiku and Honen.
Within this lineage, four works on esotericism are attributed
to Eii. They are the Jinen jodoshiki, the Naisago kanchoshiki,
the Himitsu kancho, and the Naisago kancho kuketsu.
One of Honen's biographies, the Shui kotoku den-e, records
that Eiku was famous for his teachings on esoteric Tendai Buddhism
and on the Mahayana precepts. (HDZ 594.) The esoteric teachings
here referred to may well refer to those of the Renge school.
the
10 Tendai Exoteric Schools
the Yokawa
Eshin School (Sugiu Line)
Honen received from Koen
the Sugiu line, later called the Yokawa Eshin school. This line
came out of the Eshin school begun by Genshin, who transmitted
its teachings to his disciple Kakucho (960-1034). It then passed
in succession to Shohan (996-1077), Chogo, Chujin (1065-1138)
and Kokaku. Within the Sugiu line, the two most important monks
from the standpoint of medieval Tendai history were Chujin and
Kokaku. Chujin is said to have been the first to write down and
compile the orally transmitted teachings of the medieval Tendai
Eshin school. While many of the twenty-three works (among them
are the Hokkemongu yogi kikigaki, the Kankoruiju
etc.) attributed to him are probably apocryphal, it is possible
that some were in existence by Honen's time, and that he read
them.
the
Ohara School
Honen received from Eiku
the teachings of the Ohara school, a minor line of the Eshin school.
The lineage of which is as follows: Kakucho (952-1034, the founder
of the Kawa school. His writings are mainly concerned with Tendai
esoteric teachings), Josei, Yuimyo, Enzen, Gensan, Ryoga, Ryonin,
Eiku, and as Eiku's disciple Honen. Among these, the most famous
are Ryoga and Ryonin. Ryoga was Ryonin's master and is also called
Jijo bo Ajari. Three works are attributed to him: the Enai
hoju shu (Commentary on the Fa-hua wen-chu), the Shisoi
shiji, and the Chushakusho, including a commentary
on Chih-i's Fa-hua wen-chu and a treatise on Indian logic
(Skt. hetuvidya, Jp. inmyo).
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