Overview
Beyond the core observances of Uposatha, Vesak, Parinirvāṇa Day, Ullambana, and the Guanyin commemorations, many Mahayana communities honour a wider set of days related to Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and foundational sutras.
These additional observances are not required in Tiantai practice, but they enrich the cycle of the lunar year and offer opportunities for renewed reflection, compassion, and study.
This guide outlines the most relevant supplementary dates, especially those connected to devotion, Lotus Sutra themes, or the wider Tendai/Tiantai landscape.
1. Buddha Commemorations
Sakyamuni Enlightenment Day (成道日 / Rohatsu)
8th day of the 12th lunar month
Known in Japanese Tendai and Zen traditions as Rohatsu, this day commemorates the Buddha’s enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. It is often marked by:
- meditation (zazen and zhi–guan)
- precept renewal,
- reading the Lotus Sutra or Ariyapariyesana Sutta,
- simple offerings of light and incense.
Sakyamuni Renunciation Day (出家日)
8th day of the 2nd lunar month
Commemorates Prince Siddhartha leaving the palace to seek the path. A day for reflecting on simplicity, restraint, and one’s own habits of clinging.
Amitabha Buddha Day (阿彌陀佛聖誕)
17th day of the 11th lunar month
A widely observed day of devotion to Amitabha Buddha, the Buddha of Infinite Light. Practices may include:
- reciting Namo Amitābha Buddha,
- visualisation or contemplation on compassion,
- offering light to symbolise the removal of obscuration.
Even in Tiantai, Amitabha’s compassion is considered an expression of the Eternal Buddha of the Lotus Sutra.
Medicine Buddha Day (藥師佛聖誕)
30th day of the 9th lunar month
Honours Bhaisajyaguru, the Medicine Buddha, whose vows promise healing and restoration. A day for chanting, merit dedication, or compassionate action towards those facing illness.
2. Bodhisattva Commemorations
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Day (地藏菩薩聖誕)
30th day of the 7th lunar month
Ksitigarbha represents unwavering vow-power and the rescue of beings in difficult states. Closely associated with Ullambana, this day is ideal for:
- offerings for ancestors,
- dedicating merit to the deceased,
- reflecting on compassion for those “who have no one else.”
Samantabhadra Bodhisattva Day (普賢菩薩聖誕)
21st day of the 2nd lunar month
Samantabhadra embodies virtue, vows, and compassionate activity. He appears prominently in the closing chapters of the Lotus Sutra and is essential in Tiantai/Tendai devotion. A day for renewing aspirations or taking on a short-term vow.
Manjusri Bodhisattva Day (文殊菩薩聖誕)
4th day of the 4th lunar month
Manjusri personifies wisdom, clarity, and insight. Traditionally, students and practitioners recite Chapter 1 of the Lotus Sutra or reflect on discernment and skilful decision-making.
Maitreya Bodhisattva Days (彌勒菩薩)
Two days are sometimes observed:
- 1st day of the 1st lunar month: descent to the Tusita realm
- 16th day of the 1st lunar month: birthday
Most communities choose one or the other. Maitreya represents hope, patience, and the future Buddha who will teach the Dharma anew.
3. Sutra-Related Observances
Avatamsaka Sutra Day (華嚴會)
29th day of the 10th lunar month
Celebrates the Flower Garland Sutra, a foundational text for East Asian Mahayana and highly respected in Tiantai for its expression of interpenetration and the unity of all phenomena.
Mahaparinirvana Sutra Day
15th day of the 1st lunar month (distinct from Parinirvana Day)
In some traditions, the Mahaparinirvana Sutra is honoured separately, focusing on:
- the Buddha’s eternal nature,
- Buddha-nature teachings,
- reflections on impermanence and continuity.
4. Cultural Days With Buddhist Significance
Laba Festival (臘八節)
8th day of the 12th lunar month
Originally a Chinese winter observance, Laba Festival is now associated with the Buddha’s enlightenment and the offering of Laba congee. A human-centred ceremony that fits beautifully within Tiantai’s emphasis on gratitude.
New Year Dharma Offerings (修正會)
1st–15th days of the 1st lunar month
Often the first major temple activity of the year.
Practitioners may:
- set intentions,
- offer gratitude,
- chant the Lotus Sutra,
- engage in retreat or simplified living.
A reflective way to begin the year with clarity and vow-power.
5. Suitable Practices for These Supplementary Days
These observances are an opportunity to slow down and reconnect. Common practices include:
- chanting or reading a chapter of the Lotus Sutra (which, for many Tiantai laypeople is performed daily throughout the year)
- zhi–guan meditation
- merit dedication
- visiting a temple or sacred site
- lighting incense or lamps
- refraining from meat, intoxicants, or needless consumption
- supporting charities or offering compassion in action
Even a small gesture aligns with Tiantai’s understanding of time as Dharma.
Conclusion
These supplementary days broaden the seasonal landscape of Buddhist practice. Whether devoted to a Buddha, a bodhisattva, or a revered sutra, each observance offers a doorway into reflection and compassion.
In Tiantai Buddhism, such days are not requirements but are a way of aligning the heart with the rhythm of the Dharma. Our Tiantai Buddhist Calendar Project includes many of these dates, offering a guide for practice throughout the year.