The Kamakura period was an era when the simple and powerful spirit of the warriors was reflected in culture. At the same time, new forms of Buddhism, called Kamakura New Buddhism, emerged one after another with the aim of saving ordinary people amid wars and disasters.
Basic Knowledge
The characteristic of Kamakura culture was that it inherited aristocratic culture from the Heian period while adding the realistic and powerful expression of the warriors. In sculpture, Unkei and Kaikei created the Kongo Rikishi statues at the Great South Gate of Todai-ji in 1203. In literature, works such as The Tale of the Heike, Kamo no Chomei's Hojoki, Yoshida Kenko's Tsurezuregusa, and Fujiwara no Teika's Shin Kokin Wakashu appeared. Famous historical works include the Azuma Kagami, compiled by the Hojo clan, and Jien's Gukansho.
In Buddhism, new teachings appeared that explained salvation in ways understandable to ordinary people, replacing the difficult Buddhism centered on the aristocracy.
Pure Land Buddhism Honen — Chanting "Namu Amida Butsu" (exclusive nenbutsu)
Jodo Shinshu Shinran (a disciple of Honen) — Doctrine of salvation of evil people
Ji-shu Ippen — Traveling throughout the country while performing dancing nenbutsu
Nichiren Buddhism (Hokke-shu) Nichiren — "Namu Myoho Renge Kyo," and the Rissho Ankoku Ron
Rinzai Zen Eisai — Zazen, spread among warriors, introduced tea
Soto Zen Dogen — Shikantaza (just sitting), Shobogenzo
Further Study (Background and Effects)
Behind the birth of Kamakura New Buddhism was a widespread sense that society had entered the Age of Mappo, an age of decline, amid the Genpei wars, famines, and epidemics. It was revolutionary to teach that even ordinary people unable to perform difficult practices or understand scriptures could be saved simply by chanting the nenbutsu or a daimoku.
Zen Buddhism (Rinzai and Soto) suited the spiritual training of warriors, and Rinzai in particular received the protection of the Kamakura and Muromachi shogunates. Eisai brought tea back from China and laid the foundation for the later tea ceremony culture.
The Kongo Rikishi statues are remarkable works made using the joined-block technique; statues over 8 m tall were completed in only 69 days.
- Unkei and Kaikei = Kongo Rikishi statues at the Great South Gate of Todai-ji (1203)
- The Tale of the Heike = war tale transmitted by biwa players
- Kamo no Chomei's Hojoki and Yoshida Kenko's Tsurezuregusa = two of the three great essays
- Shin Kokin Wakashu = compiled by Fujiwara no Teika and others by order of Retired Emperor Go-Toba
- Pure Land Buddhism = Honen; Jodo Shinshu = Shinran; Ji-shu = Ippen
- Nichiren Buddhism = Nichiren; Rinzai Zen = Eisai; Soto Zen = Dogen
- Doctrine of salvation of evil people = "evil people are precisely those who can be saved," Shinran's teaching
Points to Note (Easily Confused)
① Do not confuse Pure Land Buddhism (Honen) with Jodo Shinshu (Shinran). Shinran was Honen's disciple and taught a more thorough doctrine, including the salvation of evil people.
② Rinzai Zen (Eisai) and Soto Zen (Dogen) are both Zen schools. Rinzai received shogunate protection, while Soto spread among local warriors and ordinary people.
③ The Tale of the Heike is an anonymous war tale, while The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu is a Heian-period narrative. Their periods and authors differ.
④ Nichiren strongly criticized other schools and was exiled twice. His followers chant the daimoku, "Namu Myoho Renge Kyo."
Practice
- Name the two Buddhist sculptors who created the Kongo Rikishi statues at the Great South Gate of Todai-ji.
- Name the founder of Jodo Shinshu and the doctrine at the center of his teaching.
- Name the school of Zen founded by Eisai and the school founded by Dogen.