Is There a Group Identity?: Tanyan(516-588)and his Samgha of Nirvāṇa Learning

Associate Professor Sun Ying-gang 

National Institute for Advanced Humanistic Studies, Fudan University

Studies of Buddhist Culture,  April 2015

Abstract:

   This paper attempts to discuss Tanyan and his Samgha who were famous of Nirv膩峁嘺 Learning and trys to analyze how does a typical Samgha composed in Sui and Tang Dynasty. It is generally believed that Sectarian Buddhism rised during Sui and Tang Dynasty in China, however, this is just the deduction and construction by later generations. For Tanyan and his Samgha, regional identification and mentor-disciple relationship is very important to maintain and unite the community. Buddhists seek only the truth and they can lean from different masters if necessary. Although Tanyan was the state Master of Emperor Wen of Sui Dynasty, he never monopolized temples or its properties. There were Huiyuan and other Sangha communities besides Tanyan and they have no rivalry within the Buddhists concentrated on Nirv膩峁嘺 Learning. Maybe we can promote our understanding of Chinese Sangha community in Medieval Times through the analyzing of Tanyan and his Samgha.