Tokuitsu

Tokuitsu(Đức nhất)(781?-842?) was a scholar-monk of theHossōsect ofBuddhisminJapan.He is best known for his debates with other leading Buddhists of the time,KūkaiandSaichō,and for asserting a more orthodox view of Mahayana Buddhism based on thestate-sanctioned schoolsofNara,Japan.

Biography

Little is known about Tokuitsu's early life, but records state that he studiedHossōdoctrine at an early age atKōfuku-ji,then laterTōdai-ji.His teacher is believed to be the eminent scholar Shūen (769-834). Saichō writes that Tokuitsu left the capital at age 20, and resided in the outer provinces in eastern Japan, apparently at the temples of Chūzen-ji inTsukubaand Enichi-ji inAizu.The bulk of his writings were concerned with challenging theEkayana,Tiantaidoctrines espoused by Saichō. Where Saichō advocated the notion of universalbuddhahoodin all beings, Tokuitsu countered with the orthodox Hossō view that buddhahood is not inherent in all beings, but can be awakened through the Dharma. In time the debate grew heated, and insults were exchanged with Saichō criticizing Tokuitsu as "one who eats only coarse, meager food [allusion to thePratimokshamonastics precepts], while Tokuitsu criticized the patriarch ofTendaiBuddhism,Zhiyiof being a "country rustic".

By contrast, Tokuitsu's correspondences with Kūkai were more cordial, but letters by Tokuitsu expressed great interest, but persistent confusion and doubt over Kūkai's teachings surrounding theDharmakaya.Kūkai, respecting Tokuitsu's authority, maintained a more humble, conciliatory tone, and sought to assert the validity of his esoteric-only teachings. Tokuitsu conceded some points to Kūkai's argument, but remained unconvinced otherwise.

References

• Abe, Ryuichi (1999).The Weaving of Mantra: Kukai and the Construction of Esoteric Buddhist Discourse.Columbia University Press. pp. 204–228.ISBN0-231-11286-6.
• Ford, James L. (2006).Jokei and Buddhist Devotion in Early Medieval Japan.Oxford University Press, USA. pp. 47–50.ISBN0-19-518814-4.