Tʾan-luan

views updated

Tʾan-luan (c.488–554). Chinese Buddhist monk generally considered to be the founder of the Pure Land School in China. He was the author of the first known Chinese systematic work on Pure Land Buddhism, known as Lun chu, an abbreviation from Wu-liang-shou ching yu-pʾo-tʾi-shê yüan sheng chi chu. He taught the ‘Easy Path’ to enlightenment, by reliance on the power of Amitābha Buddha rather than the ‘Difficult Path’ or ‘Holy Path’ of the traditional practices.

More From encyclopedia.com