Chinese Esoteric Buddhism

E389557

Chinese Esoteric Buddhism is a tradition of Vajrayana-influenced Buddhist practice that developed in Tang dynasty China, emphasizing mantras, mudras, and mandalas within a ritual and doctrinal framework that later shaped Japanese schools such as Shingon.

All labels observed (4)

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (51)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Buddhist tradition
Esoteric Buddhism
Vajrayana-influenced tradition
aimsAt Buddhahood in this body
protection of the state
worldly benefits
alsoKnownAs Chinese Esoteric Buddhism
surface form: Tang Esoteric Buddhism

Tangmi
associatedWith healing rituals
imperial court rituals
rain-making rituals
state protection rites
centersOnDeity Mahavairocana
Vajrasattva
cosmology Diamond Realm Mandala
Womb Realm Mandala
surface form: Two Realms Mandala system

Womb Realm Mandala
countryOfOrigin China
declinedAfter Huichang Suppression of Buddhism
surface form: Huichang Persecution of Buddhism
developedIn Tang dynasty
emphasizes mandalas
mantras
mudras
flourishedDuring 8th century
9th century
hasDoctrinalFramework Vajrayana doctrines
historicalCenter Chang'an
Luoyang
influenced Shingon Buddhism
surface form: Japanese Esoteric Buddhism

Shingon Buddhism
integratedWith Chan Buddhism
Chinese Buddhist scholasticism
Huayan / Kegon
surface form: Huayan Buddhism

Tiantai school
surface form: Tiantai Buddhism
keyFigure Amoghavajra
Huiguo
Vajrabodhi
Śubhakarasiṃha
religiousTraditionOf Buddhism
ritualTechnology abhiseka initiation
fire offerings
mandala visualization
mantra recitation
mudra performance
scripturalBasis Mahavairocana Tantra
Vajrasekhara Sutra
surface form: Susiddhikara Sutra

Mahavairocana Tantra
surface form: Vajraśekhara Tantra
transmittedTo Japan
Korea
Tibet Autonomous Region
surface form: Tibet
uses rituals

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (8)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Shingon Buddhism influencedBy Chinese Esoteric Buddhism
True Word School sharesTraditionWith Chinese Esoteric Buddhism
Chinese Esoteric Buddhism alsoKnownAs Chinese Esoteric Buddhism
this entity surface form: Tang Esoteric Buddhism
Mahavairocana tradition Chinese Esoteric Buddhism
Mahavairocana veneratedBy Chinese Esoteric Buddhism
this entity surface form: Chinese Esoteric Buddhists
Mahavairocana Tantra associatedSchool Chinese Esoteric Buddhism
Mahavairocana Tantra influenced Chinese Esoteric Buddhism
this entity surface form: Tang dynasty Esoteric Buddhism
Vajrasekhara Sutra associatedWithSchool Chinese Esoteric Buddhism
this entity surface form: Tang dynasty Esoteric Buddhism