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Empresses and Buddhism in Japan in VI-VIII cc



Author(s)

Elena Lepekhova

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DOI:10.17265/2328-2177/2016.01.005

Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia

The basic problem of given paper is a role of women-empresses in the process of spreading Buddhism in Japan during VI-VIII cc. There are many evidences that during the process of spreading Buddhism in the Far East and South-East Asia, the principles of Buddhist doctrine became a part of the state ideology in many cases due to the patronage of the powerful laywomen. In Japan, thanks to the activity of empresses Suiko (597-628), Jitō (645-703) and Kōken (718-770). Buddhism could integrate into the system of traditional religion Shinto, developing further into Shinto-Buddhist syncretism. During the reign of Suiko about a hundred of the Buddhists, temples have been constructed through all the country and a system of religious bureaucracy “Sōgō” was founded. Empress Jitō took part in religious reforms during the second half of VII century and sent Buddhist missionaries to the local aborigines haya to and emishi. Empress Kōken after the death of her father—emperor Shōmu continued his policy to constructing the state ideology on the basis of Buddhism and was the first ruler in the history of early-medieval Japan, who permitted Buddhists to take part in the Shinto ceremonies. Therefore, the study of the role of empresses in spreading of Buddhism in Japan is important for understanding the history of religious and cultural traditions in Japan.

Buddhism, Japan, Suiko, Jitō, Kōken, “Sōgō”, hayato, emishi, Shōmu, Shinto