Japanese Zen
Medieval and modern Japan
It develops meditative and cultivation practices directing attention to ordinary experience.
Historical context
Zen developed in Japan from Buddhist lineages connected with Chinese Chan. Its schools transmitted different practices and forms of teaching.
Overview
Meditative practice can examine how distinctions and reactions form in ordinary experience. Instructions, rituals, and work with a teacher provide concrete settings for that examination.
Main claims
Practice and understanding develop in relation to ordinary experience.
Debates and nuances
Rinzai and Sōtō traditions give different weight to practices such as kōan work and seated meditation.
This entry provides educational context.