Medieval Japanese Empresses and their role in spreading Buddhism in Japan in VI-VIII cc.
| Author | Lepekhova, Elena |
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Introduction.
The introduction of Buddhism to Japan is dated by 552 in "Nihon Shoki" [phrase omitted] "The Annals of Japan", when the Korean king Sonmyon wan (or Seong) of Baekje (Jp. Kudara) [phrase omitted] sent a mission to Japan that included some Buddhist monks, together with an image of Buddha and a number of sutras to introduce Buddhism. As the chronicle reports, the emperor Kimmei [phrase omitted] (509-571), after receiving the Korean embassy and accepting the gifts, asked the advice of his three chief counselors: oomi [phrase omitted] (Great Imperial chieftain, or Great Minister) Soga-no Iname [phrase omitted], omuraji (Great Deity chieftain) Mononobe-no Okoshi [phrase omitted] and the other omuraji (Great Deity chieftain) Nakatomi-no Kamako [phrase omitted] about the acceptance of a new religion.
While both Mononobe and Nakatomi were against the acceptance of Buddhism, oomi Soga-no Iname supported the new religion. Therefore, the emperor granted to him the stone image of Buddha, and Iname placed it in Owarida palace, later transformed into Buddhist temple. ("Nihon Shoki", V. II, 1973, PP. 89-90)
In the temple chronicle "Gangoji Garan Engi Narabi ni Ruki Shizaicho" [phrase omitted], "Origins of the Gangoji Monastery and Its Assets"), composed in the second half of the VIII century, is given another version about the date 538, which included Empress Suiko [phrase omitted] (554-628). It says that the emperor, on the advice of Minister Soga-no Iname, ordered to place a statue of the Buddha in the palace of Suiko in Mukuhara [phrase omitted]. (Gangoji garan engi, 1975, P. 85)
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Empress Suiko and the Spreading of Buddhism in Japan in VII c.
Empress Suiko [phrase omitted] (554-628) was the first of the Japanese empresses of Asuka-Nara period. Her reign marked the beginning of a tradition when the Empresses Dowagers ascended the throne during VII-VIII centuries. Suiko came to power with the support of the powerful Minister Soga-no Umako [phrase omitted] (the son of Soga-no Iname)--supporter of the teachings of Buddha, who had previously managed to remove from the power their rivals--aristocratic clans Nakatomi and Mononobe, who opposed to the adoption of Buddhism. According to the chronicles "Nihon Shoki", and "Gangoji Garan Engi", the Empress was also a supporter of the new religion. The first thing she ordered to do, upon ascending the throne, was the construction of Buddhist temples through the country: "The Empress ordered to the Crown Prince [Shotoku] to further the flourishing of Three Treasures (koryu sanbo [phrase omitted]). At this time, all the omi and muraji, competing with each other, built the houses for the welfare of their lords and parents. These houses were called the [Buddhist] temples (o-tera [phrase omitted])." ("Nihon Shoki", V. II, 1973, P.131)
In 605 and 606, according to the "Nihon Shoki", the Empress ordered to Crown Prince Shotoku-taishi [phrase omitted], ministers and governors of the provinces to make two images of Buddha, made of copper and embroidery [phrase omitted] (doju butsuzo) (probably, it was the mandala with images of Buddhas). In 606, under the guidance of the master Tori, was made the first copper statue of Buddha in Japan. It's height was about 16 shaku and later it was installed in Gangoji Temple [phrase omitted] In honor of this event, in the fourth month of the same year, in the temple was arranged a great prayer ceremony of the Buddhist monks, called kambutsu-e [phrase omitted]. It symbolized the emergence of Shakyamuni Buddha in the world of samsara. Probably, the creation of the first monumental Buddha statue in Japan by the order of Empress Suiko, placing this one in Buddhist temple Gangoji, and arrangement of Buddhist prayer ceremony, in the eyes of Empress and courtiers should symbolized the Shakyamuni Buddha's emergence in Japan. (IBID, P. 145)
In the same year, the Empress openly expressed her intention to build the Buddhist temples and encourage the dissemination of "internal books" (naiden [phrase omitted]), i.e. Buddhist literature in a special decree. So, after two months, she ordered to Crown Prince Shotoku to make the public lectures (kojite [phrase omitted]) on the Buddhist sutras "The Lion Roar of Queen Shrimala" (Sc. "Shrimaladevisimhanada sutra, Jp. "Shomangyo" [phrase omitted]) and "Lotus Sutra" (Sk. "Sudharmapundarica sutra", Jp. "Hokkekyo" [phrase omitted]). When the Prince made it successfully in the Palace of Okamoto, then, according to the "Nihon Shoki", the Empress was very happy about that event and granted to Prince lands in the province of Harima. (IBID)
The main content of the "Shrimaladevisimhanada sutra" are the Buddhist sermons on behalf of Shrimala, the daughter of the King Prasenadjit of ancient Indian State of Kosala, who became the wife of the King of Ajodhya. She tells about the One Vehicle of Buddha and explain to her audience that they originally have a Buddha-nature. ("Lion's Roar of Queen Shrimala: A Buddhist Scripture on the Tathagatagabha theory", 2007, P. 53) Most likely, Suiko choose this Sutra for public reading, not only for its relative...
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