This paper examines the appeal of the school of Zen to the warrior class and what it offered the changing society of Japan. The main point of appeal of this new religion was that it brought new ideals and values to the people of Japan. Zens focus on

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The Kamakura period is particularly important in the history of Japanese religion as it was part of the period of the great religious reforms. Through these various social and religious developments, came the rapid growth of the Zen Buddhist monastic movement. This new Zen Buddhist religion derived from Chinese Ch’an teachings which focused on the use of meditation to gain spiritual enlightenment. The school of Zen largely appealed to the bushi (warrior) class in Japan during this time and a good part of its success was dependant on this factor. This paper examines the appeal of the school of Zen to the warrior class and what it offered the changing society of Japan.

The main point of appeal of this new religion was that it brought new ideals and values to the people of Japan.  Zen’s focus on meditation is especially important as it changed this sect from others in embracing that “enlightenment can only come by direct intuitive perception” (Sansom, 1978, p.338).  It does not rely on any sacred foundation, but rather on the individuals understanding of their environment and surroundings (Sansom, 1978, p.339) and it sought to convey this enlightenment non-verbally. The sect of Zen Buddhism offered a different and simpler was of achieving spiritual blessing which allowed them to come to terms with the warrior life and death. At the same time, it opposed the complicated and elitist rituals of the previously established schools (Adolphson, 1997, p.244). Zen’s focus on spiritual enlightenment through zazen (meditation), the vigorous collaboration between the warriors and Zen masters, the emphasis on self-awareness and understanding were all new and challenging experiences for the Japanese warriors (Collcutt, 1982, pp.192-3).  

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Although Zen cannot be said to be the last of the new Kamakura Buddhist movements it did, however, offer significant values to Japan’s changing society.Eisai believed that Zen would revive the strict discipline of Buddhist teachings and etiquette (Bary, Keene& Tanabe, 2001, p. 307).It offered the nobles and warriors, who sponsored it, “stern discipline, literacy and learning, access to the culture of the Chinese ruling elite, and the possibility of social recognition as well as spiritual enlightenment” (Collcutt, 1982, p.191).  Zen offered its followers a path of acceptance and development of their lives through its Chinese background which was seen ...

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