Japanese Buddhist Schools

Ever since its very introduction in Japan in 552 CE, with its four original schools, Buddhism has been split in different sects focusing on different aspects of Buddhism, different texts or completely different philosophies.

Now, Japan has around 4 main school branches divided in as many as 50 schools and sub-schools, some of them labeled as new religions. We will discuss some of them here, and link to the main ones for a more indepth study of the major schools.

 

 

We first have to know that, in the world, there are three main schools of Buddhism:

The Theravāda or the Ancient Teaching (the oldest school in East-Asia)

The Mahāyāna or the great vehicule (principal school in Asia and Japan)

The Vajrayāna or diamond vehicule (Esoteric Buddhism including Tibetan and Shingon) also called Tantric Buddhism

 

The Principal School in Japan

Links

Return from Schools of Japanese Buddhism to Japanese Buddhism- Home Go to the site map

 

 

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