Zen at War
Encyclopedia
Zen at War is a book written by Brian Daizen Victoria, first published in 1997. The second edition appeared in 2006. The book focuses on the history of Zen Buddhism and Japanese militarism
from the time of the Meiji Restoration
through the Second World War
and the post-War period. It describes the influence of state policy on Japanese Buddhism, and particularly the influence of Zen philosophy on the Japanese military.
The book also explores the actions of Japanese Buddhists who opposed the growth of militarism. The 2002 edition of Zen at War was followed by Zen War Stories, which further explores the intimate relationship between Japanese institutional Buddhism and militarism during World War II
.
sect
. He received his Ph.D. in Buddhist Studies from the Department of Religion at Temple University
and his M.A. from Sôtô-affiliated Komazawa University
in Tokyo, where he also majored in Buddhist Studies. He has taught Japanese language and culture at the University of Nebraska at Omaha
, Creighton University
, and Bucknell University
in the United States and lectured in the Department of Asian Languages and Literatures at the University of Auckland
. He was a Senior Lecturer in the Centre in Asian Studies at the University of Adelaide
in South Australia
. He has also been Yehan Numata Distinguished Visiting Professor, Buddhist Studies at the University of Hawaii-Manoa in Honolulu. At present, he serves as Director of the Buddhist Studies in Japan Program affiliated with Antioch Education Abroad and, concurrently, professor of Japanese Studies at Antioch University
, headquartered in Yellow Springs, Ohio
.
Japanese militarism
refers to the ideology in the Empire of Japan that militarism should dominate the political and social life of the nation, and that the strength of the military is equal to the strength of a nation.-Rise of militarism :...
from the time of the Meiji Restoration
Meiji Restoration
The , also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, Reform or Renewal, was a chain of events that restored imperial rule to Japan in 1868...
through the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and the post-War period. It describes the influence of state policy on Japanese Buddhism, and particularly the influence of Zen philosophy on the Japanese military.
The book also explores the actions of Japanese Buddhists who opposed the growth of militarism. The 2002 edition of Zen at War was followed by Zen War Stories, which further explores the intimate relationship between Japanese institutional Buddhism and militarism during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Author
The author, Brian Victoria, trained at the Sôtô Zen monastery of Eiheiji and is a fully ordained priest in the SōtōSoto
Sōtō Zen , or is, with Rinzai and Ōbaku, one of the three most populous sects of Zen in Japanese Buddhism.The Sōtō sect was first established as the Caodong sect during the Tang Dynasty in China by Dongshan Liangjie in the 9th century, which Dōgen Zenji then brought to Japan in the 13th century...
sect
Sect
A sect is a group with distinctive religious, political or philosophical beliefs. Although in past it was mostly used to refer to religious groups, it has since expanded and in modern culture can refer to any organization that breaks away from a larger one to follow a different set of rules and...
. He received his Ph.D. in Buddhist Studies from the Department of Religion at Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
and his M.A. from Sôtô-affiliated Komazawa University
Komazawa University
Komazawa University is one of the oldest universities in Japan. Its history starts in 1592, when a seminary was established to be a center of learning for the young monks of the Sōtō sect, one of the two main Zen Buddhist traditions in Japan.The university in Tokyo campus comprises eight faculties...
in Tokyo, where he also majored in Buddhist Studies. He has taught Japanese language and culture at the University of Nebraska at Omaha
University of Nebraska at Omaha
The University of Nebraska at Omaha is a four-year state university located in Omaha, Nebraska, USA. Founded in 1908 as Omaha University, the institution became the public Municipal University of Omaha in 1931. It assumed its current name in 1968 following a merger into the University...
, Creighton University
Creighton University
Creighton University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Omaha, Nebraska, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1878, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. The university is accredited by...
, and Bucknell University
Bucknell University
Bucknell University is a private liberal arts university located alongside the West Branch Susquehanna River in the rolling countryside of Central Pennsylvania in the town of Lewisburg, 30 miles southeast of Williamsport and 60 miles north of Harrisburg. The university consists of the College of...
in the United States and lectured in the Department of Asian Languages and Literatures at the University of Auckland
University of Auckland
The University of Auckland is a university located in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest university in the country and the highest ranked in the 2011 QS World University Rankings, having been ranked worldwide...
. He was a Senior Lecturer in the Centre in Asian Studies at the University of Adelaide
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
in South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
. He has also been Yehan Numata Distinguished Visiting Professor, Buddhist Studies at the University of Hawaii-Manoa in Honolulu. At present, he serves as Director of the Buddhist Studies in Japan Program affiliated with Antioch Education Abroad and, concurrently, professor of Japanese Studies at Antioch University
Antioch University
Antioch University is an American university with five campuses located in four states. Campuses are located in Los Angeles, California; Santa Barbara, California; Keene, New Hampshire; Yellow Springs, Ohio; and Seattle, Washington. Additionally, Antioch University houses two institution-wide...
, headquartered in Yellow Springs, Ohio
Yellow Springs, Ohio
Yellow Springs is a village in Greene County, Ohio, United States, and is the location of Antioch College and Antioch University Midwest. The population was 3,487 at the 2010 census...
.
Further reading
- Bethel, Dayle M. "Two Views of Tsunesaburo Makiguchi's Attitude toward Japanese Militarism and Education," (The Journal of Oriental Studies (vol. 12, 2003), pp. 208)
- Daniel A. Metraux, "A Critical Analysis of Brian Victoria's Perspectives on Modern Japanese Buddhist History" (Journal of Global Buddhism, ISSN 1527-6457)
- Miyata, Koichi, "Critical Comments on Brian Victoria's 'Engaged Buddhism: A Skeleton in the Closet?" (Journal of Global Buddhism (vol. 3, 2002), pp. 79-85)
- Noelke, MuhoMuho Noelkeis a German Zen master. Presently, he is the abbot of Antai-ji, a Japanese Soto Zen temple. He has translated works of Dōgen and Kōdō Sawaki, and has authored two books of his own....
, Letter to a friend about Zen practice, family life, Japanese Buddhism and the war about Zen at war - includes correspondence with Brian Victoria - Sato, Kemmyō Taira, "Suzuki Daisetsu no Makoto (鈴木大拙のまこと)" (Kamakura: Matsugaoka Bunko Foundation, Newsletter no. 21, 2007)
- Sato, Kemmyō Taira, (Trans. Thomas Kirchner) "D. T. Suzuki and the Question of War (Kyoto: The Eastern Buddhist, Vol. 39, No.1, (New Series) 2008 )
External links
Reviews- Review of Zen at War by Fabio RambelliFabio RambelliFabio Rambelli is an Italian academic, author and editor. He is a professor in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara .-Early life:...
, in the Journal of Buddhist Ethics - Review of Zen at War by David LoyDavid LoyDavid Robert Loy is an American author and authorized teacher in the Sanbo Kyodan lineage of Japanese Zen Buddhism.-Early life:Loy was born in the Panama Canal Zone. His father was in the U.S. Navy so the family traveled a great deal. He attended Carleton College in Minnesota, and spent his junior...
- "Zen Holy War?", a review by Josh Baran
- Review of Zen at War by Vladimir K, at the zensite.com