Taicang The Mandala Study

Esoteric Buddhism was a new and gradually developed Buddhism sect in India after Mahayana Buddhism developed into the 3rd century. In the late of the 3rd century, Tantra was introduced into China, went through the period of Dharani Esoteric Buddhism, but the time that Tantra was established was in the period of Emperor Xuan Zong of Tang dynasty, by Shan Wuwei and others who translated the scriptures into Chinese and spread them, taught the Buddha disciples and established the sectarian factions. After Buddha was destroyed by WuZong, the lineage of teaching Tantra was unknown.Mandala was the first one accepted by Buddhism as an initial approach to become a Buddhist believer, then after the 3th century,it was used frequently by Tantra tuo ronny as an auxiliary initial approach to become a Buddhist believer, and obtained the development during the progress of complexity of Dharani Ceremony, Around the sixth century, Mandala was perfected gradually, and took the place of Dharani. The maturity of Mandala was embodied chiefly in the creation—< Vairocanabhisambodhitantra>which was created in the beginning of the 7th century.< Vairocanabhisambodhitantra>draws on the features of all Mandalas in history, and for the first time, absorbed the thoughts of Garbhadhatu into the construction of the theoretical system of Mandala, merged various practicing initial approaches to become a Buddhist believer into an integral whole, as well as rendered Mandala delicate religious principles to elucidate,it was in this way that "Garbhadhatu Mandala of Great compassion" was created, which epitomizes initial approach to become a garbhadhatu secret method believer.In this paper, I made a comparative study of various articles of, believe these articles which are compatible with each other are an organic system in essence, and together with< The type of Ju Yuan> the guiding principle among them, compose the system of"Garbhadhatu Mandala of Great compassion". At the same time, I also made a detailed and thorough examination of various versions of "Garbhadhatu Mandala of Great compassion"——the one in,the one that Shan Wuwei left,as well as the ones of Four Rules and Gapan,think these versions mainly followed the rules and guiding principles of,although there exist more or less differences. As for the statement that there are two so-called types——Shan Wuwei's and B u Kong's—I don't agree with it. Put it in other words, the inheriting of garbhadhatu secret method continuously adheres to the tradition that the teaching was under the guidance of teachers through oral instruction, from the time of Shan Wuwei to Fa Quanzhi in Dang Dynasty. This can be observed from the fundamental characteristics of "Garbhadhatu Mandala of Great compassion" which it keeps all along, it also can be seen from the integration of practicing and rule of Four Rules,while these activities are mainly based on. It is doubtless that the "image of Garbhadhatu" and "the old pattern of Garbhadhatu" which circulate in Japan are the creation of same system in whichwas created, while the changes of "new pattern" are beyond the interpretation ofand exceed the scope of teachers'guidance. All these changes present the signs of opening up a new realm, establishing a new sect and creating a new world, thus, I believe that the "new pattern" is the outcome of transforming of "Garbhadhatu Mandala of Great compassion" after it was introduced into Japan, and it is more likely that Konghai is the initial creator.The nature of "Garbhadhatu Mandala of Great compassion" is the integrated initial approach to become a garbhadhatu secret method believer, and it was formed gradually in the course of history that the gymnosophists of Tantra explored the cultivation methods, was the creation of social history. The progress of inheriting and developing of "Garbhadhatu Mandala of Great compassion" in Dang Dynasty has both the characteristics of stability and great tolerance. Its basic shape is old city-like, was constructed around concentric square by the square building composed of quadruple yards of inside and outside. From the inside out, these yards are the Middleground, the Garth, the Second Yard and the Third Yard according to the order, formed an organic and harmonious organizational system. The fundamental meaning of "Garbhadhatu Mandala of Great compassion"is the meaning of essence,ontology and complete, it symbols the ontology and supreme being of universe, and tolerates everything functionally. The Square of three deep actually represents the vertical dimension of top,middle and bottom as well as the horizontal dimension of east, south, west and north, is a comprehensive and three-dimensional characterization of the attributes of the square of three deep. On the one hand, it symbols the relationship between world and the final path nature and phenomenon; on the other hand, it symbols the levels of practicing, characterizes various phase states and functions. As to the gymnosophists, from the inside out, three deep and four also symbols the worldly phenomena that appear in each level of Pure Bodhicitta; from the outside in, it symbols the progress of orderly cultivating of Bodhicitta to Pure Bodhicitta.Anyway, "Garbhadhatu Mandala of Great compassion"which drew on essence of other world religions is the masterpiece in the development process of Mandala,is the fundamental initial approach to become a garbhadhatu secret method believer, that marks the complete maturity of Mandala. For the development of Buddhism, "Garbhadhatu Mandala of Great compassion"caused a tremendous transformation on the development tendency of elucidating of religious principles and static meditation which Buddhism always emphasized, namely, the tendency was transformed to a scenario-style mysticism cultivation which emphasizes both static meditation and external ritualism. "Garbhadhatu Mandala of Great compassion",as the core content of garbhadhatu secret method,also profoundly influenced the culture and arts, as well as social customs of Dang Dynasty.