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How did the Chinese Chan Buddhist tradition become Zen Buddhism in Japan?
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East Asian arts
Ceremonial cong of jade (calcined nephrite), 3rd millennium bc, Neolithic Liangzhu culture; in the Seattle Art Museum, Wash., U.S.
The Chinese Chan Buddhist tradition evolved into Zen Buddhism in Japan through a process of transmission and adaptation that spanned several centuries. While Chan was introduced to Japan as early as the 7th century, it did not fully flourish until the 12th and 13th centuries, largely through the efforts of Japanese monks who traveled to China to study under Chan masters.1
Key figures in this transition include:
- Eisai: A Tendai monk who visited China and returned to Japan in the 12th century to establish the Rinzai school. He integrated meditation with the use of koan phrases and emphasized the role of Zen in defending the state.1
- Dōgen: In the 13th century, Dōgen traveled to China and returned to establish the Sōtō school. He focused on the discipline of zazen, or "sitting straight," teaching that practice and enlightenment are intertwined.1
As these traditions took root, they were further shaped by the Japanese social and political landscape, including the patronage of the warrior class and the imperial family, eventually leading to the distinct sectarian lineages of Rinzai, Sōtō, and later Ōbaku.12