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The first Sôtô Zen temple in [[Japanese Buddhism in Hawaii|Hawaii]] was established in [[1903]].<ref>Franklin Odo and Kazuko Sinoto, ''A Pictorial History of the Japanese in Hawaii 1885-1924'', Bishop Museum (1985), 77-78.</ref> Beginning in the 1920s or '30s, but particularly in the 1950s, Zen was first introduced in a prominent way to Americans, through a series of lectures delivered by [[D.T. Suzuki]]. The conception of Zen, and of Japanese culture, introduced by Suzuki continues to have a profound impact upon conventional wisdom and stereotypical popular understandings among Americans about Japan today.
The first Sôtô Zen temple in [[Japanese Buddhism in Hawaii|Hawaii]] was established in [[1903]].<ref>Franklin Odo and Kazuko Sinoto, ''A Pictorial History of the Japanese in Hawaii 1885-1924'', Bishop Museum (1985), 77-78.</ref> Beginning in the 1920s or '30s, but particularly in the 1950s, Zen was first introduced in a prominent way to Americans, through a series of lectures delivered by [[D.T. Suzuki]]. The conception of Zen, and of Japanese culture, introduced by Suzuki continues to have a profound impact upon conventional wisdom and stereotypical popular understandings among Americans about Japan today.
===Zen in Ryûkyû===
Zen was adopted by the kings of the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]], who established the Zen temples [[Engaku-ji (Okinawa)|Engaku-ji]] and [[Sogen-ji|Sôgen-ji]] in the 15th century as two of the chief patron temples of the royal family. Zen monks played a prominent role in foreign relations for Ryûkyû, as they did in Muromachi era Japan.
==Cultural and Intellectual Impact==
==Cultural and Intellectual Impact==
Zen rock gardens are, of course, among the most stereotypically famous aspects of Zen culture, and of Japanese culture more broadly. The garden at [[Ryoan-ji|Ryôan-ji]] in Kyoto, where from any given vantage point, at least one rock will always be hidden from view, is perhaps that which the stereotype most draws upon. The dry landscape (''kare sansui'') garden at Ginkaku-ji, which includes a mound of pebbles meant to resemble or evoke [[Mt. Fuji]], is another famous example. However, Zen gardens, including those designed by the likes of [[Muso Soseki|Musô Sôseki]] and [[Kobori Enshu|Kobori Enshû]], take many forms, and some are quite green, including moss, water features, and even trees and other plants.
Zen rock gardens are, of course, among the most stereotypically famous aspects of Zen culture, and of Japanese culture more broadly. The garden at [[Ryoan-ji|Ryôan-ji]] in Kyoto, where from any given vantage point, at least one rock will always be hidden from view, is perhaps that which the stereotype most draws upon. The dry landscape (''kare sansui'') garden at Ginkaku-ji, which includes a mound of pebbles meant to resemble or evoke [[Mt. Fuji]], is another famous example. However, Zen gardens, including those designed by the likes of [[Muso Soseki|Musô Sôseki]] and [[Kobori Enshu|Kobori Enshû]], take many forms, and some are quite green, including moss, water features, and even trees and other plants.
==References==
==References==
