Ritsu
From Buddhist Encyclopedia
Three Jewels
Buddha . Dharma . Sangha
Three Dharma Seals
Anicca . Dukkha . Anatta
Karma . Rebirth
Samsara . Nirvana
Four Noble Truths
Seven Sets
Four Frames of Reference
Four Right Exertions
Four Bases of Power
Five Faculties
Five Strengths
Seven Factors of Awakening
Noble Eightfold Path
Bodhisattva
Four Great Vows
Ten Great Vows
The Ritsu (律宗) school of Buddhism is one of the six schools of Nara Buddhism in Japan, noted for its use of the Vinaya textual framework of the Dharmaguptaka, one of the early schools of Buddhism. The Ritsu school was founded in Japan by the blind Chinese priest Chien-chen, better known by his Japanese name "Ganjin." Ganjin traveled to Japan at the request of Japanese priests, and established the Toshodaiji temple in Nara. During the Kamakura period, the Ritsu sect was divided into schools at Toshodaiji, Kaidan'in, Saidaiji, and Sen'yuji. However, during the Meiji period, the Ritsu sect was incorporated within the Shingon sect by decree of the Japanese government. Today only Toshodaiji, which resisted the government measures, retains its identity as a Ritsu temple.
