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How did the Avatamsaka school influence Japanese Kegon Buddhism?

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Mahayana Guanyin and attendant bodhisattvas, detail of a painted cave mural, Kansu province, China, early 8th century.

The Avatamsaka school, known as Huayan in China, provided the foundational philosophical framework and doctrinal system for Japanese Kegon Buddhism. Introduced to Japan around 740 CE by pupils of the Chinese systematizer Fazang and the Indian priest Bodhisena, the school’s influence was profound and immediate.12

The core influence of the Avatamsaka school on Kegon includes:

Doctrinal Foundation: Kegon adopted the Avatamsaka theory of dharma-dhatu (totality), which posits that all elements of the universe are interdependent and mutually identical. This "totalistic" principle emphasizes that every phenomenon reflects the whole, with the buddha Vairochana at the center.12
Political Integration: The school’s emphasis on a harmonious, interconnected universe appealed to Emperor Shōmu, who utilized these teachings as a model for governing his people.1
Institutional Legacy: This influence culminated in the construction of the Tōdai Temple in Nara and the dedication of the colossal bronze statue of Vairochana in 752 CE, establishing a lasting center for the tradition that persists to this day.12