Few books in recent years have so deeply influenced the thinking of buddhists in japan and elsewhere as brian daizen victoria s zen at war victoria 1997. The book also examines the relationship to buddhism of japans seven. Meditating on war and guilt, zen says its sorry the new york times. Zen war stories routledge critical studies in buddhism victoria, brian on. A book by university of adelaide academic dr brian victoria has prompted an apology by japanese zen buddhists for their support of the japanese military during world war ll. Justwar ideology in buddhist sri lanka routledge, 2002.
Drawing on the writings and speeches of leading zen masters and scholars, brian victoria shows that zen served as a powerful foundation for the fanatical. Following the critically acclaimed zen at war 1997, brian victoria explores the. The book exploded onto the western zen scene in 1997 and has been a subject of controversy ever since. A compelling history of the contradictory, often militaristic, role of zen buddhism, this book meticulously documents the close and. Zen at war is a book written by brian daizen victoria, first published in 1997. The books great contribution is that it has succeeded, where others have not, in bringing to public attention the largely unquestioning support of japanese buddhists for their nation. The book s great contribution is that it has succeeded, where others have not, in bringing to public attention the largely unquestioning support of japanese buddhists for their nation. It reveals the close involvement of zen buddhist teachers with japanese militarism from the meiji period. Brian is widely known for his book on zen at war, first published in 1997 with a new edition in 2006. Feb 23, 2009 gudo nishijima roshi gives his opinion about japanese buddhism and its support of the war effort during world war ii. Brian daizen victoria born 1939 is an american educator, writer and buddhist priest in the soto zen sect. Zen war stories edition 1 by brian victoria, daizen. Gudo nishijima roshi gives his opinion about japanese buddhism and its support of the war effort during world war ii.
Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. Brian daizen victoria is a native of omaha, nebraska and a 1961 graduate of nebraska wesleyan university in lincoln, nebraska. In a challenge to romanticized visions of zen, a western zen priest exposes the seamy underside of buddhism as a state religion. Victoria is a soto zen priest and director of the buddhist studies program in japan at antioch college. Dec 06, 2012 victoria takes us onto the naval battlefield in the company of warriormonk and rinzai zen master nakajima genjo. Dr victoria shares his personal journey, beginning with his experience as conscientious objector of the vietnam war, which lead to him becoming a zen buddhist priest and an antiwar activist, and. The wartime complicity of zen institutions is hardly news to scholars of japanese religion, but this is the first study in english to present detailed evidence and address the important issues at length. Brian victoria s courageous book, zen at war, shows another face of japanese zen buddhism, an ugly and disturbing picture of zen that has stunned and even traumatised many western zen teachers and students alike. Zen at war war and peace library paperback common by author brian daizen victoria on. A compelling history of the contradictory, often militaristic, role of zen buddhism, this book meticulously documents the close and previously unknown support of a supposedly peaceful religion for japanese militarism throughout world war ii. In general, victoria s expose, in his articles and two books zen at war and zen war stories, thoroughly ripped open a painful underbelly of japanese farright politicalmilitary brainwashing and brutality, especially but not only during the 2nd world war. He agrees with brian victoria, author of zen at war, that many japanese. Click to read more about zen at war by brian daizen victoria. Victoria made a very important point that during world war ii a number of zen buddhists gave their support to the japanese imperial army.
Weatherhill publishing, details how the zen buddhist establishment backed the imperial war effort, declaring it a holy war, holding. But i really have no lingering hard feelings toward either of them and jundo cohens recent piece about brian victorias books zen at war and zen war stories is well worth reading. Zen at war edition 2 by brian daizen victoria 9780742539266. Victoria reveals for the first time, through examination of the wartime writings of the japanese.
Zen mesterek zen masters zen fooldal vissza a terebess online nyitolapjara. On multiple occasions over the past fifteen centuries, buddhist leaders have sanctioned violence, and even war. Because of the book, several groups said sorry for their actions. He has published numerous works on the relationship of religion to violence, with a focus on the relationship between buddhism and japanese militarism around world war ii. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Sep 21, 2016 dr victoria shares his personal journey, beginning with his experience as conscientious objector of the vietnam war, which lead to him becoming a zen buddhist priest and an anti war activist, and. The eight essays in this book focus on a variety of buddhist traditions, from antiquity to the present, and show that buddhist organizations have used religious images and rhetoric to support military. Zen buddhisms ties to militarism discussed in light of brian victorias book zen at war, shockingly dark and unfamiliar picture of zen during. Victoria reveals the inside story of the japanese zen establishments dedicated support of the imperial war machine from the late 1800s through world war ii. Criticism of buddhism simple english wikipedia, the free.
Zen at war brian daizen victoria haftad 9780742539266. Jan 11, 2003 zen buddhisms ties to militarism discussed in light of brian victoria s book zen at war, shockingly dark and unfamiliar picture of zen during world war ii. Just war ideology in buddhist sri lanka routledge, 2002. Buy zen at war 2nd edition war and peace library second by victoria, brian daizen isbn. T work is the followup to zen at war, a book which. Following the critically acclaimed zen at war 1997, brian victoria. Heres a book that will surely give you a moment to reconsider how culture shapes religion. Following the critically acclaimed zen at war 1997, brian victoria explores the intimate relationship between japanese institutional buddhism and militarism during the second world war. The book also examines the relationship to buddhism of japans seven classa war criminals who were hung by the tokyo war crimes tribunal in 1948. Zen at war is a 1997 book by brian daizen victoria. Colonel sugimoto goro, whose posthumous book taigi great. However, brian victoria has also been criticized for a lack of accuracy in his citation and translation of texts from the persons he accuses. Dec 19, 2002 buy zen war stories routledge critical studies in buddhism 1 by brian victoria isbn. Zen at war is a courageous and exhaustively researched book by brian victoria, a western soto zen priest and instructor at the university of auckland.
Zen war stories by brian daizen victoria goodreads. Review of brian daizen victoria, zen war stories routledge, 2003. He has published widely in both japanese and english, including zen master dogen, which he coauthored, and zen war stories. Daizen victoria recounts the history of how japanese zen buddhists and scholars reframed buddhist doctrine to support and justify japanese imperialism during and leading up to world war ii. According to two books, zen at war 2nd edition, 2006 and zen war stories 2003, both by brian daizen victoria, zen and buddhism in japan have a dubious, not to say perverted, history for much of the period 18671945 and indeed, post war too.
Zen at war simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Brian daizen victoria 1939 brian daizen victoria is a native of omaha, nebraska and a 1961 graduate of nebraska wesleyan university in lincoln, nebraska. Victoria reveals for the first time, through examination of the wartime writings of the japanese military itself, that the zen schools view of life and death was deliberately incorporated into the militarys. When many westerners look at japan during world war ii, they think that this era was an aberration of japanese history, and that ideas of zen buddhism historically promoted peace in the region. Buy zen war stories routledge critical studies in buddhism 1 by brian victoria isbn. Though traditionally regarded as a peaceful religion, buddhism has a dark side. Few books in recent years have so deeply influenced the thinking of buddhists in japan and elsewhere as brian daizen victorias zen at war victoria 1997. Zen war stories routledge critical studies in buddhism. He said that they helped the japanese army on the battlefield. Meditating on war and guilt, zen says its sorry the new. Jun 28, 2006 a compelling history of the contradictory, often militaristic, role of zen buddhism, this book meticulously documents the close and previously unknown support of a supposedly peaceful religion for japanese militarism throughout world war ii. The zen priest brian daizen victoria wrote in his book zen at war that buddhist groups justified japanese militarism. Presenting a history of the contradictory, often militaristic, role of zen buddhism, this book documents the unknown support of a supposedly peaceful religion for japanese militarism throughout world war ii. Mar 03, 2016 wiks february event featured brian daizen victoria, a soto zen priest, talking about his current work on zen and terrorism in the 1930s.