Sanjiejiao


The Sanjiejiao or Pufazong is a religious movement based on the teachings of the Chan Buddhist monk Xinxing.

Teachings

Xinxing taught that in the last of the Three Ages of Buddhism, Buddhists must learn all the Buddhist teachings. He taught tapas, begging for food, eating only one meal daily, worshiping all living things as Buddhas based on the doctrine of the Buddha-nature, building public charity "treasure houses" for monastics and laypeople alike, and sky burial upon death.

History

Based in Hua Du monastery in Chang'an, the movement was very popular in 600-700 CE. The monks lived in the Sanjiejiao house, or Sanjieyuan inside Buddhist monasteries and built endless treasure houses. Its practices faced heavy criticism from many Buddhists and restriction by Buddhist Emperor Wen of Sui and Wu Zetian as unorthodox teachings. Emperor Xuanzong of Tang ordered the destruction of the Wujinzangyuan, the Sanjieyuan and the school's texts, sparing only the treasure houses. Bhikkhuni Zongjing in the Zhixin monastery was a known practitioner who died in 831. Some texts, such as part of the three stages teachings were preserved in Japanese monasteries. Some were also found in Dunhuang texts and grottoes.

Readings