13 Pure Land Patriarchs

净宗十三祖

Life Stories of
the 13 Pure Land Patriarchs

Pure Land Buddhism originated in India but was only formed as a proper school when the teachings came to China later. Chinese Pure Land Buddhism has a history of over 1600 years, beginning with Patriarch Huiyuan from the East Jin Dynasty (390), and later Master Shandao (613-681, who inherited the teachings from Master Dao’chuo and Master Tanluan) properly established the branch of Pure Land Buddhism. Until recently, Master Yinguang was regarded as the thirteenth Patriarch (1862-1940). Biographies of important Indian Dharma masters who preached the Pure Land Dharma can also be found at the end of the page, such as Bodhisattva Asvaghosa, Nagarjuna and Vasubandhu. 

It is important to know that in mainland China, there is only one school of Pure Land Buddhism with thirteen Pure Land Patriarchs. All these great masters were recognised as patriarchs by later people due to their impressive practice and significant contribution in spreading the Pure Land Dharma. They have all realised Nianfo Samadhi (Samadhi of the mindfulness of Amitabha Buddha). Pure Land Buddhism quickly throughout China in the Tang Dynasty and has now become the largest branch of Buddhism in China. Pure Land Buddhism also spread to countries such as Japan, South Korea, Vietnam and now globally (Please note that in Japanese Pure Land Buddhism, they honoured Master Tanluan, Master Dao'chuo and Master Shandao as the Pure Land Patriarchs because it was after Master Shandao, from the 9th century, the teachings spread to Japan and in the 12th century, the Japanese Pure Land Master Honen established the Pure Land School in Japan known as Jodo Shu, you can also find the biographies of Master Tanluan and Dao'chuo at the end of this page). Namo Amituofo. 

Para visualizar la bibliografía en español de los guías del Budismo de la Tierra Pura, puedes visitar aquí. Amituofo.

Yan Long Lam Yan Long Lam

Bodhisattva Vasubandhu 天亲尊者

Born nine hundred years after Sakyamuni Buddha entered Parinirvana (approximately between the 4th and 5th centuries) and about 200 years after Nagarjuna Bodhisattva.

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Pure Land Buddhism Pure Land Buddhism

Pure Land Great Master Dao’chuo 道绰大师

Great Master Daochuo was born in the Northern Qi Dynasty, during the first year of Emperor Wu's rule (562 C.E.), at Bing Province's Wenshui (now Shanxi Wenshui, Jiaocheng County), in a Wei family.

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