Introduction
of Buddhism
- How was Buddhism
introduced into Japan? -
Buddhism is the teaching of Sakyamuni,
who was born in the 6th century B.C.(or in the 5th century B.C.) as a prince of
the Sakya clan near the India-Nepal border.
When he was young, he had
deep concern about human sufferings of existence, old age, sickness and death,
and left his palace home.
He became Buddha (enlightened person) after
about six years of his ascetic practice and meditation.
He propagated the
contents of his enlightenment and his teaching that anyone can get enlighted.
Lumbini
was his birthplace.
Japan
was still in the Jomon period, when people lived in dugouts and made their living
on hunting and gathering plants.
He preached his teaching for 45 years,
entering Nirvana at the age of 80.
After that, his deciples spread the seeds
of Buddhism in various parts of India.
Around the year 270 B.C., King Asoka
ascended the throne in Maurya Kingdom and made efforts to propagate Buddhism.
Buddhism made a long journey from Gandhara and
Bamian through the Silk Road.
It is said that Buddhism was introduced from
Paekche in 538 (or in 552).
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*
Sakya clan = formed a tribe state, southwest of Nepal, at the foot of the Himaraya
mountains. The birth place of Sakyamuni was Lumbini.
* Shaku-son = an abbreviation
of Sakyamuni-Seson (the Sage of the Sakya clan); His real name was Gautama Siddharta.
* Buddha = a person who has attained spiritual enlightenment
* Nyumetsu =
entering Nirvana, death of Buddha
* ehan = becoming absolutely free by breaking
the bonds of worldly passions, or delusion that makes people suffer
* Bonno
= worldly desires that make people suffer
* Gandhara = a place name of the
present Pakistan
* Bamian = a place name of the present Afghanistan
*
Paekche = the state situated in the middle western part of the Korean Peninsula
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