[FN#12] The sitting-in-meditation, for the full explanation of which see Chapter viii.

The historical importance of Zen can hardly be exaggerated.  After its introduction into China in the sixth century, A.D., it grew ascendant through the Sui (598-617) and the Tang dynasty (618-906), and enjoyed greater popularity than any other sect of Buddhism during the whole period of the Sung (976-1126) and the Southern Sung dynasty (1127-1367).  In these times its commanding influence became so irresistible that Confucianism, assimilating the Buddhist teachings, especially those of Zen, into itself and changing its entire aspect, brought forth the so-called Speculative philosophy.[FN#13] And in the Ming dynasty (1368-1659) the principal doctrines of Zen were adopted by a celebrated Confucian scholar, Wang Yang Ming,[FN#14] who thereby founded a school, through which Zen exercised profound influence on Chinese and Japanese men of letters, statesmen, and soldiers.

As regards Japan, it was first introduced into the island as the faith first for the Samurai or the military class, and moulded the characters of many distinguished soldiers whose lives adorn the pages of her history.  Afterwards it gradually found its way to palaces as well as to cottages through literature and art, and at last permeated through every fibre of the national life.  It is Zen that modern Japan, especially after the Russo-Japanese War, has acknowledged as an ideal doctrine for her rising generation.

[FN#13] See ‘A History of Chinese Philosophy,’ by Ryukichi Endo, and A History of Chinese Philosophy,’ by Giichi Nakauchi.

[FN#14] For the life of this distinguished scholar and soldier (1472-1529), see ’A Detailed Life of O Yo Mei’ by Takejiro Takase, and also ‘O-yo-mei-shutsu-shin-sei-ran-roku.’

CHAPTER I

HISTORY OF ZEN IN CHINA

1.  Origin of Zen in India.

To-day Zen as a living faith can be found in its pure form only among the Japanese Buddhists.  You cannot find it in the so-called Gospel of Buddha anymore than you can find Unitarianism in the Pentateuch, nor can you find it in China and India any more than you can find life in fossils of bygone ages.  It is beyond all doubt that it can be traced back to Shakya Muni himself, nay, even to pre-Buddhistic times, because Brahmanic teachers practised Dhyana, or Meditation,[FN#15] from earliest times.

[FN#15] “If a wise man hold his body with its three parts (chest, neck, and head) erect, and turn his senses with the mind towards the heart, he will then in the boat of Brahman cross all the torrents which cause fear.

“Compressing his breathings let him, who has subdued all motions, breathe forth through the nose with the gentle breath.  Let the wise man without fail restrain his mind, that chariot yoked with vicious horses.

“Let him perform his exercises in a place level, pure, free from pebbles, fire, and dust, delightful by its sounds, its water, and bowers; not painful to the eye, and full of shelters and eaves.