A Study on the Transmission and Localization of Buddhist Sects, Doctrines, and Institutional Structures from Tang Dynasty China to Japan and Korea
Abstract
This paper examines the transmission, reception, and localization of Tang Dynasty Buddhism in Japan and Silla (Korea) from the 7th to the 10th centuries. Through a comparative analysis focusing on sectarian development, doctrinal adaptation, and institutional structures, the study highlights how Tang Buddhist traditions were systematically introduced through diplomatic missions, monastic exchanges, and the dissemination of texts. While both Japan and Silla initially imitated Tang models closely, each region subsequently developed distinct forms of Buddhism through processes of indigenization shaped by local political, social, and cultural contexts. In Japan, this led to the emergence of schools such as Tendai and Shingon, which later influenced the formation of Kamakura New Buddhism. In Silla, Buddhism evolved with a strong orientation toward state protection and its integration into indigenous systems like the Hwarangdo. The research underscores the multidirectional and interactive nature of Buddhist exchanges in East Asia, while also acknowledging limitations of assessing reciprocal influences between Japan and Silla, as well as their potential impact on Tang Buddhism itself.
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