Huayan

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Huayan (華嚴) is a major school of Chinese Buddhism that emerged during the Tang dynasty. It is known for its profound and intricate philosophy, which is based on the Avatamsaka Sutra (華嚴經, Huayan Jing). The Huayan school is also referred to as the "Flower Garland" school, a name derived from the sutra that forms its doctrinal foundation.

History

The Huayan school was founded by Dushun (杜順, 557-640 CE), who is traditionally considered the first patriarch. The school's doctrines were further developed by his disciples, including Zhiyan (智儼, 602-668 CE), Fazang (法藏, 643-712 CE), and Chengguan (澄觀, 738-839 CE). The Huayan philosophy reached its zenith under the guidance of these scholars, particularly Fazang, who systematized its teachings and wrote extensively on the subject.

Philosophy

The central tenet of Huayan philosophy is the concept of the interpenetration of all phenomena, which is often illustrated by the metaphor of Indra's net. This metaphor describes a vast net of jewels, each reflecting all the others, symbolizing the interconnectedness and interdependence of all things. Huayan thought emphasizes the idea that every part of the universe contains the whole, and the whole is reflected in every part.

Another key concept in Huayan is the Fourfold Dharmadhatu (四法界), which describes four levels of reality: 1. The realm of phenomena (事法界, shì fǎ jiè) 2. The realm of principle (理法界, lǐ fǎ jiè) 3. The realm of the non-obstruction of phenomena (事事無礙法界, shì shì wú ài fǎ jiè) 4. The realm of the non-obstruction of principle and phenomena (理事無礙法界, lǐ shì wú ài fǎ jiè)

Influence

Huayan philosophy has had a significant impact on other East Asian Buddhist traditions, including Korean Buddhism and Japanese Buddhism. In Korea, the Huayan school is known as Hwaeom and was introduced by the monk Uisang (義湘, 625-702 CE). In Japan, it is known as Kegon and was introduced by the monk Rōben (良弁, 689-773 CE).

Related Pages

• Chinese Buddhism
• Avatamsaka Sutra
• Indra's net
• Fourfold Dharmadhatu
• Dushun
• Zhiyan
• Fazang
• Chengguan
• Hwaeom
• Kegon