This book provides a comprehensive examination of the diverse writings of Dogen (1200-1253), the founder of Soto (C. Ts'ao-tung) Zen Buddhism in Japan. Dogen is especially known for introducing to Japanese Buddhism many of the texts and practices that he discovered in China. The context of Dogen's travels to and reflections on China are reconstructed by means of a critical look at traditional sources both by and about Dogen. While many studies emphasize the unique features of Dogen's Japanese influences versus traditional Chinese models, this book calls attention to the fusion of Chinese and Japanese elements in Dogen's religious vision. It reveals many new materials and insights into Dogen's main writings, including the multiple editions of the Shobogenzo, and how and when this seminal text was created by Dogen and edited and interpreted by his disciples. This book provides the reader with a comprehensive approach to the master's life works and an understanding of the overall career trajectory of one of the most important figures in the history of Buddhism and Asian religious thought.
