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How Many Ancestor Courts of Buddhism Sects in Xi’an?
Published:2015/01/06 Famous Temples Views:1365
In Chinese Han Buddhism, there are distinctions between schools (宗派) and ancestral monasteries (祖庭). Historically, eight major schools were established: the Sanlun School (三论宗), Chan School (禅宗), Tiantai School (天台宗), Huayan School (华严宗), Faxiang School (法相宗), Vinaya School (律宗), Pure Land School (淨土宗), and Esoteric School (密宗). Among them, except for the Tiantai and Chan Schools, the ancestral monasteries of the remaining six schools are all located near Xi’an City, Shaanxi Province, China:
- Sanlun School: Caotang Temple (草堂寺)
- Huayan School: Huayan Temple (华严寺)
- Vinaya School: Jingye Temple (淨业寺)
- Pure Land School: Xiangji Temple (香积寺)
- Faxiang School: Daci’en Temple (大慈恩寺)
- Esoteric School: Daxingshan Temple (大兴善寺)
Xiangji Temple (香积寺)
Xiangji Temple is located in Shenhe Plain, Guodu Subdistrict, Chang’an District, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province. It was built during the Tang Dynasty to honor Master Shandao (善导大师), the founder of the Pure Land School. Revered as an incarnation of Amitabha Buddha, Master Shandao’s main teachings and activities were centered in Chang’an. Xiangji Temple, housing his 13-story stupa, has become a sacred site admired by Pure Land practitioners throughout history and is recognized as the ancestral monastery of the Pure Land School worldwide.
Master Shandao initially studied under Master Daochuo (道绰大师) at Xuanzhong Temple. After Daochuo’s passing, Shandao moved to Chang’an, the imperial capital, where he clarified misconceptions about Pure Land teachings, established the fundamental doctrine of “recitation of Amitabha’s name as the primal vow for ordinary beings to enter the Pure Land” (本愿称名,凡夫入报), and formalized the Pure Land practices, thereby officially founding the Pure Land School. Following Shandao’s passing, Emperor Gaozong and Empress Wu Zetian commemorated his legacy by commissioning his disciple, Master Huaiyun (怀恽法师), to build the 13-story stupa and Xiangji Temple in 689 CE.
Huayan Temple (华严寺)
Huayan Temple, located in Chang’an District, Xi’an, was one of the Eight Great Temples of Fanchuan during the Tang Dynasty. Established in 803 CE (Tang Zhenyuan 19th year), it now only preserves two brick pagodas: one for the first patriarch, Master Dushun (杜顺禅师), and the other for the fourth patriarch, Qingliang Master Chengguan (澄观). Chengguan, after the passing of the third patriarch, Fazang (法藏), further developed the teachings and authored commentaries on the newly translated Avatamsaka Sutra.
Jingye Temple (淨业寺)
Jingye Temple, located in Chang’an District, Shaanxi, was built during the Sui Dynasty (581–618 CE). It served as the practice site for Master Daoxuan (道宣律师), a renowned Tang Dynasty monk who established the Vinaya School (Nanshan Vinaya). He is venerated as the founding patriarch of the Vinaya School across generations.
Daci’en Temple (大慈恩寺)
Daci’en Temple, located in Xi’an, was founded in the ninth year of the Sui Dynasty’s Kaihuang reign (589 CE). It was the translation center for Buddhist scriptures by Master Xuanzang (玄奘法师), who also founded the Faxiang School. The temple is recognized as the ancestral monastery of the Faxiang School and holds the same status in Japanese Faxiang Buddhism.
Daxingshan Temple (大兴善寺)
Daxingshan Temple, located in southern Xi’an, was established between 265–289 CE during the Jin Dynasty. During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, it served as a national translation center for Buddhist scriptures. The temple reached its peak prominence when three eminent Indian monks—Shan Wuwei (善无畏), Vajrabodhi (金刚智), and Amoghavajra (不空)—translated numerous Buddhist esoteric texts during the Tang Kaiyuan era. These translations greatly contributed to the flourishing of Esoteric Buddhism. Notably, Japanese monk Kūkai (弘法大师) studied under Amoghavajra’s disciple Huiguo (惠果) before establishing the Shingon School in Japan. Daxingshan Temple remains an influential site with historical and international significance and currently serves as the headquarters of the Xi’an Buddhist Association.
Pre: Yunmen Temple