The Indian and Chinese Background

This chapter provides a brief description of the development of Pure Land Buddhism in India and China. First it takes up the teachings of the Pure Land sūtras which form the basis of Pure Land Buddhism as a whole. Next it turns to the development of Pure Land Buddhism in China. First, it recounts the place of Pure Land Buddhism in Chinese Tiantai (Tendai) meditation thought. Then it shows how Pure Land Buddhism became a devotional form of Buddhism under the impact of Tanluan, Daochuo, Shandao and other monks. Finally, it shows how this devotional form of Pure Land Buddhism was incorporated into the Chinese Tiantai school.