Zen at War - Softcover

Victoria, Brian A.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0834804050 ISBN 13: 9780834804050

Publisher: Weatherhill Inc, 2007

Synopsis

In a challenge to romanticized visions of Zen, a Western Zen priest exposes the seamy underside of Buddhism as a state religion in Japan between the Meiji Restoration and the end of World War II. Included are quotations by well-known exponents of Zen, including the young D.T. Suzuki, glorifying emperor-worship and imperial conquest. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

About this title

Review

Praise for the first edition: Zen at War is a stunning contribution to our understanding of Japanese militarism and the broader issue of war responsibility as it continues to be addressed (and ignored) in contemporary Japan. Victoria's great sensitivity to the perversion and betrayal of Buddhism's teachings about compassion and nonviolence makes his indictment of the role played by Imperial War Buddhists in promoting ultranationalism and aggression all the more striking--and all the more saddening.--John Dower, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; author of War Without Mercy: Race and Power in the Pacific War

Zen at War is an incendiary book and an essential cautionary tale for anyone wanting to apply Buddhist teachings. Brian Victoria is a genuinely radical historian who asks followers of Zen-and by extension all Buddhists-to look beyond the pristine, other-worldly image the tradition has presented and understand the deep compromises that came from its relationship with power. Much more than an exposé, Zen at War challenges Buddhists to think through the ethical consequences of venerated doctrines and examine them in light of the Buddha's original teaching. Despite the efforts of some Zen apologists to minimize the significance of Brian Victoria's findings, the first edition lit a fire under Zen and the new edition adds fuel by extending the book's critique back into Buddhist history. It is an important contribution to western Buddhism.--Vishvapani, editor of Dharma Life magazine

Praise for the first edition: Zen at War is a wake-up call for all Buddhists. Victoria has shown in a passionate and well documented way that Buddhism is not immune to the kind of distortions that have been used throughout human history by virtually all of the world's religions to justify so-called holy war.--John Daido Loori, Roshi, Abbot of Zen Mountain Monastery; author of The Heart of Being: Moral and Ethical Teachings of Zen Buddhism

Praise for the first edition: In this carefully documented study, Brian Victoria discloses the incredible intellectual dishonesty of Japanese Buddhists who perverted their religion into a jingoistic doctrine of support for the emperor and imperial expansion during the period 1868-1945. Good job! We must face this dark side of our heritage squarely.--Robert Aitken, retired Roshi, Honolulu Diamond Sangha

Synopsis

This is an examination of the close relationship that existed between Zen Buddhism and Japanese militarism prior to World War II. Using the actual words of leading Zen masters and scholars, the author shows that Zen served as a powerful foundation for the fanatic and suicidal spirit displayed by the imperial Japanese military. At the same time the author tells of the dramatic and tragic stories of the handful of Buddhist organizations and individuals that dared to oppose Japan's march to war. He follows this history up to more recent "apologies" of several Zen sects for their support of the war and the re-emergence of what he calls "corporate Zen" in postwar Japan.

Edition details

• Publisher: Weatherhill Inc
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0834804050
• ISBN 13: 9780834804050
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 240