East Asian Languages and Societies Commons^™

Shih-Tóu Hsi-Chíen, Progenior Of Soto Zen, Roy William Collier

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Zen Buddhism has followed an extremely tortuous route, both geographically and philosophically, in its development from its Buddhist roots in India, centuries before the birth of Christ, to its present internationally important state of development in the world today. Buddhism, containing the embryo of the yet unborn sect of Zen, moved from India to China during the Sixth Century A. D. Zen came into its om as a Buddhist sect during the renaissance Chinese culture in the 7'ang Dynasty (approximately Seventh through Ninth Centuries, A. D.). The great Japanese Zen master, Dogen, initiated Zen as a movement in Japan in …