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Dôgen is considered the founder of the [[Soto|Sôtô]] school of [[Zen]] [[Buddhism]] in Japan.
Dôgen is considered the founder of the [[Soto|Sôtô]] school of [[Zen]] [[Buddhism]] in Japan.
Dôgen was adopted by his samurai half-brother [[Minamoto no Michitomo]] in [[1205]]. In [[1227]], after traveling to China, he introduced the Sôtô (C: Caodao) school of Zen to Japan. In contrast to the [[Rinzai]] Zen advocated by [[Eisai]] around the same time, which emphasized the contemplation of ''[[koan|kôans]]'', Dôgen's Sôtô Zen emphasized ''[[zazen]]'' - seated meditation.
Dôgen was the son of ''[[Naidaijin]]'' [[Fujiwara no Michichika]] and Ishi, a daughter of [[Fujiwara no Motofusa]]. Following his mother's death when he was quite young, Dôgen was raised in his father's mountain villa, or in the [[Horikawa-in|Horikawa mansion]] (in Kyoto) of his older half-brother [[Minamoto no Michitomo]], who had adopted him. Young Dôgen took the tonsure and became a monk at the age of 13.
Dôgen distanced himself from centers of religious and secular authority, building a small temple in a remote, mountainous area in [[Echizen province]] (today, [[Fukui prefecture]]); this temple later came to be known as [[Eihei-ji]], and is today one of two head temples of Sôtô Zen in Japan.
Dôgen was adopted by his samurai half-brother [[Minamoto no Michitomo]] in [[1205]]. After traveling in China from [[1223]]-[[1227]],<ref>Robert Morrell, "Zeami's Kasuga Ryûjin (Dragon God of Kasuga), or Myôe Shônin," ''Early Kamakura Buddhism: A Minority Report'', Asian Humanities Press (1987), 103.</ref> he introduced the Sôtô (C: Caodao) school of Zen to Japan. In contrast to the [[Rinzai]] Zen advocated by [[Eisai]] around the same time, which emphasized the contemplation of ''[[koan|kôans]]'', Dôgen's Sôtô Zen emphasized ''[[zazen]]'' - seated meditation.
The 2009 film ''Zen'' features [[kabuki]] actor Nakamura Kankurô as Dôgen, and relates a fictionalized version of Dôgen's life.
While Eisai was inspired by the monastic discipline of Chinese temples, and wished to reinvigorate [[Tendai]] Buddhism through Zen teachings, Dôgen found Chinese Buddhist temples to be filled with corruption. After a brief time at a small Zen temple he established on the outskirts of Kyoto, where he attracted a number of followers from the [[Darumashu|Daruma sect]], Dôgen distanced himself from centers of religious and secular authority, building a small temple in a remote, mountainous area in [[Echizen province]] (today, [[Fukui prefecture]]); as a result, Dôgen's impact during his lifetime was minimal. However, some of his writings gained prominence and popularity in later centuries, and are considered important theological or philosophical treatises today, including his "How to Practice Buddhism" (''Bendôwa'', [[1231]]) and "True Dharma Eye Treasury" (''Shôbôgenzô'').<ref>William de Bary, ''Sources of Japanese Tradition'', vol 1, Columbia University Press (2001), 306-313.</ref> In addition, Dôgen's remote Echizen temple later came to be known as [[Eihei-ji]], and is today one of two head temples of Sôtô Zen in Japan.
In [[1854]], [[Emperor Komei|Emperor Kômei]] granted Dôgen the honorary title of Busshôden Tôkokushi (very roughly, "Teacher of the Eastern Country Who Conveyed the Character of the Buddha").<ref>Ishin Shiryô Kôyô 維新史料綱要, vol 1 (1937), 560.</ref>
The 2009 film ''Zen'' features [[kabuki]] actor Nakamura Kankurô VI<ref>Then known as Nakamura Kantarô II, he took the name Kankurô in 2012.</ref> as Dôgen, and relates a fictionalized version of Dôgen's life.
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*"[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1156470/ Zen]," Internet Movie Database (IMDB).
*"[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1156470/ Zen]," Internet Movie Database (IMDB).
*Conrad Schirokauer, et al, ''A Brief History of Japanese Civilization'', Wadsworth Cengage (2013), 81.
*Conrad Schirokauer, et al, ''A Brief History of Japanese Civilization'', Wadsworth Cengage (2013), 81.
*Plaques on-site at the former site of the [[Horikawa-in]] in Kyoto.
<references/>
[[Category:Kamakura Period]]
[[Category:Kamakura Period]]
[[Category:Religious Figures]]
[[Category:Religious Figures]]