samurai

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Zen Buddhism really came alive in Japan when a man by the name of Eisai established the Rinzai school of Zen. However, Eisai was forced to compromise with already existing ideas if he wanted to gain a foothold among the already established sects. Eisai’s successor, Dogen, however was able to establish Zen in its purest form. He had found a new school known as the Soto school of Zen. This school stressed the importance of zazen or sitting in meditation. Therefore, unlike in the Rinzai where one engaged in problems or themes to gain understanding, realization could be gained gradually. With Dogen’s new form of the philosophy, Zen spread rapidly throughout Japan. During this time the samurai held great power and influence in the social state. Emperors were even dethroned or exiled at the hands of the samurai. Therefore, when Zen was found appealing to the samurai, it quickly spread throughout Japan.
Zen Buddhism held many similarities with the ideology of samurai. Nukariya points out four key parallels between Zen monks and samurai. The first being how they both have to undergo strict disciple and maintain a very stoic attitude. Next he points out how both groups believe in honest poverty, which is to say that neither will attempt to gain wealth through dishonorable ways. He mentions how a samurai would rather starve than to live by some expedient unworthy of dignity and also includes examples of how some samurai starved to death even if they had some gold saved to be used for emergencies. Third, he discusses how both were distinguished by their masculinity and pride, most likely rooted from their intense discipline. Lastly, and of our main focus, is how both had similar notions towards death. Samurai were able to encounter...

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... were able to overcome the fear of death with the aid of Zen Buddhism. Although Zen Buddhism did provide a strong coping mechanism for samurai, other factors such as loyalty and honor were also of great importance. To say that samurai were able to practice seppuku due to their strong beliefs in Zen Buddhism would be erroneous. However it was a key component during the establishment of the bushido philosophy. It fit well with a samurai’s mentality much better than Shintoism and did in fact prove to be a coping mechanism for many. However as seen when discussing bushido and seppuku in World War II, Zen Buddhism became isolated from notions surrounding death. After the rise of bushido became solely dependent on loyalty and honor, Zen was forgotten. Nonetheless, the samurai conceptions of death influenced the history of not only medieval Japan, but modern Japan as well.

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