FAQ: What are the differences between Chinese Pure Land Buddhism and Japanese Pure Land Buddhism?

Chinese Pure Land Buddhism has a history of over 1600 years with thirteen Pure Land Patriarchs. Due to its rich history and cultural contexts,  Chinese Pure Land Buddhism offers the most comprehensive, detailed and complete picture of the Pure Land Dharma. It sits and integrates perfectly with the rest of the Mahayana Buddhism. 

Chinese Pure Land Buddhism can be called the two-power method, i.e. the power of Amitabha Buddha to deliver us to the Pure Land based on his great vows (the other power), but also relying on our own “power” to believe in Amitabha Buddha and the Pure Land, and hence vowing to be born in the Pure Land, also relying on our effort to practice Nianfo in our daily life. Chinese Pure Land Buddhism emphasizes Nianfo practice daily and observes the precepts for serious Pure Land practitioners. 

The two-power method avoids falling into the extreme interpretation that there is only “the other power”. While it is true that we entirely rely on the power of Amitabha Buddha to deliver us to the Pure Land, this is not to ignore the effort from our side, i.e. to first believe in it, to vow to attain rebirth and also to Nianfo. 

From what I understand, Japanese Pure Land Buddhism offers a more simplified version of the Pure Land Dharma. Honen (Jōdo-shū) talks about faith and Nianfo, which is also sufficient. This can be good for people who want it simple (The Shandao lineage is more similar to Honen as we can tell, and it is correct, except for Pure Land Patriarchs they are following the Japanese lineage). Whereas Shinran’s Shin Buddhism (Jōdo Shinshū) seems only to emphasize faith and ignores practice. This can be risky and maybe only for people with the highest good roots, whose faith is just so firm and deep (not a shallow, empty faith) that they will never forget Amituofo regardless of what happens. 

Chinese Pure Land Buddhism offers a comprehensive approach in Pure Land Buddhism, so Pure Land Buddhism does not seem like an outcast from the rest of Buddhism. One can enter it through many different doors, and some people would not interpret it as Christian Buddhism if one studies the Pure Land sutras properly. 

Chinese Pure Land Buddhism also talks about the nine grades of rebirth, and sutra studies are encouraged for more serious practitioners, which seems lacking in the schools of Japanese Pure Land Buddhism. This is not to criticize the Japanese Pure Land Buddhism, it is still good as it connects many people with Amitabha Buddha, but if you want the whole spectrum of the Pure Land Dharma, then you can look at what Chinese Pure Land Buddhism can offer. Amituofo.