Chidatsu


Chidatsu was a priest of the Hosso School of Japanese Buddhism.

Nomenclature and etymology

Chitatsu / Chidatsu

Exegesis

The Soka Gakkai Dictionary of Buddhism mentions Hsyan-tsang, Tz'u-en, Dosho of Gango-ji, Nara, Gango-ji, Chitsuare in reference to elucidating that Chitatsu was:

A priest of the Dharma Characteristics school in Japan. In 658, together with Chitsu, he journeyed to China and studied the doctrine of the Dharma Characteristics school under Hsyan-tsang and his disciple Tz'u-en. They brought the doctrine back with them. Earlier, Dōshō of Gangō-ji temple in Nara went to China in 653 and studied under Hsyan-tsang. On his return he spread the Dharma Characteristics teaching at Gango-ji. Thus Chitatsu and Chitsuare regarded together as the second to propagate the doctrine of this school in Japan. After his return, Chitatsu lived at Gango-ji temple and disseminated the Dharma Characteristics doctrine.