Shandao

Shandao
善導
Shandao, Muromachi period, Ōtani University Museum.
Personal
Born	613 Zibo, Shandong, China
Died	681 (aged 67–68) Chang'an, Shaanxi, China
Religion	Buddhism
Nationality	Chinese
School	Pure Land Buddhism
Lineage	2nd generation
Notable work(s)	Commentaries on the Amitāyurdhyāna Sūtra
Dharma names	Shandao
Organization
Temple	Wuzhen Temple Xuanzhong Temple Wenguo Temple Fengxian Temple
Senior posting
Teacher	Mingsheng (明勝) Daochuo
Students Huaigan (懷感) Shaokang

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Shandao (simplified Chinese: 善导大师; traditional Chinese: 善導大師; pinyin: shàndǎo dàshī; Japanese: Zendō; 613–681) was a Chinese Buddhist scholar monk and an influential figure of East Asian Pure Land Buddhism.^[1] Shandao was the first Pure land author who outright stated that ordinary people can be reborn in the Pure Land primarily by relying on the power of Amitābha Buddha's vows.^[1] Due to this, several modern scholars consider Shandao to be the true founder of Chinese Pure Land.^[1][2] According to Alfred Bloom, Shandao "systematized Pure Land thought and brought it to its highest peak of development in China."^[2] Shandao was also the first Pure Land author to state that mere oral recitation of Amitabha's name was sufficient for rebirth in the Pure Land.^[2][3]

Shandao's writings had a strong influence on later Pure Land masters, including the Japanese pure land founders Hōnen and Shinran. In Jōdo Shinshū, he is considered the Fifth Patriarch, while in Chinese Pure Land Buddhism, he is considered the second patriarch after Lushan Huiyuan.