An Illustrated Outline of Buddhism: The Essentials of Buddhist Spirituality (32 page)

China

105

502 A.D.-556 A.D.

Liang

in 520 A.D.

Bodhidharma

557 A.D.-589 A.D.

Ch’en

became the first

patriarch of Ch’an

581 A.D.-618 A.D.

Sui Dynasty

in the seventh

century Hsüan-Tsang

618 A.D.-906 A.D.

T’ang Dynasty

translated voluminous

Buddhist literature

907 A.D.-960 A.D.

Five Dynasties

from India

960 A.D-1279 A.D.

Sung Dynasty

1280 A.D.-1368 A.D. Yüan Dynasty [Mongol]

1368 A.D.-1644 A.D. Ming Dynasty

1368 A.D.-1398 A.D. Hung Wu

1403 A.D.-1424 A.D. Yung Lo

1426 A.D.-1435 A.D. Hsüan Tē

1465 A.D.-1487 A.D. Ch’ēng Hua

1488 A.D.-1505 A.D. Hung Chih

1506 A.D.-1521 A.D. Chēng Tē

1522 A.D.-1566 A.D. Chia Ching

1567 A.D.-1572 A.D. Lung Ch’ing

1573 A.D-1620 A.D.

Wan Li

1644 A.D.-1912 A.D. Ch’ing Dynasty [Manchu]

1662 A.D.-1722 A.D. K’ang Hsi

1723 A.D.-1735 A.D. Yung Chēng

1736 A.D.-1795 A.D. Ch’ien Lung

106

An Illustrated Outline of Buddhism

The invocatory formula of the Pure Land school in Sanskrit

(See pp. 79-80.)

Namo ‘mitābhaya Buddhāya

“I take refuge in the Buddha of Infinite Light”

Whoever recites the Name of Amitābha Buddha, whether in the

present or in the future, will surely see the Buddha Amitābha

and never become separated from him. By reason of that associ-

ation, just as one associating with a maker of perfumes becomes

permeated with the same perfumes, so he will become perfumed

by Amitābha’s compassion, and will become enlightened without

resort to any other expedient means.

Surangama Sūtra

China

107

iii. Chinese Calligraphy

The invocatory formula of the Pure Land school in Chinese

Na-mu O-mi-t’o Fu’
(Chinese)

Namu Amida Butsu
(Japanese)

“I take refuge in the Buddha of Infinite Light”

Archaic or seal script Regular or standard script Cursive script

Chinese
: chüan-shu
Chinese
: k‘ai-shu or chēn-shu
Chinese
: ts‘ao-shu
Japanese
: tensho
Japanese
: kaisho or shinsho
Japanese
: sosho
This script is close to the

writing that has its origin

with the first Chinese

Emperor Fu-Hsi in the

third mil ennium B.C.

108

An Illustrated Outline of Buddhism

Map of China and Neighboring Countries

(circa 1900)