Zen in General2
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Zen in general: Re-intoducing Musō Soseki’s Dialogues in a Dream Molly Vallor Jizōin is a tiny temple ensconced in a thick grove of bamboo in a quiet Western Kyōto neighborhood. A string of signs point visitors to the temple, most of which advertises its ties to two historical figures of importance: its builder, shogunal deputy Hosokawa Yoriyuki (1329 – 1392) and the famously eccentric monk Ikkyū Sojun (1394 – 1481) who trained there. All but overlooked is the man posthumously credited with its founding: Musō Soseki (1275-1351), a small statue of whom sits in a darkly lit corner of the main hall, enjoys only a brief mention in the temple’s pamphlet. Relegated to the margins of most contemporary narratives of medieval history and culture, Musō Soseki Although Musō is mostly known as the genius garden designer behind such impressive temples as Tenryūji and Saihōji, both in Western Kyōto. Still, his numerous contributions as
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in general
Transcript of Zen in General2
Zen in general: Re-intoducing Mus Sosekis Dialogues in a Dream Molly VallorJizin is a tiny temple ensconced in a thick grove o !am!oo in a "uiet #estern$ytoneigh!orhood% &stringo signspoint visitorstothetemple' most o (hichadvertises its ties to t(o historical igures o importance: its !uilder' shogunal deputy)osoka(a *oriyuki +,-./ 0 ,-/.1 and the amously eccentric monk 2kky3 So4un +,-/50 ,56,1 (ho trained there% &ll !ut overlooked is the man posthumously credited (ith itsounding: Mus Soseki +,.78-,-8,1' a small statue o (hom sits in a darkly lit cornero the main hall' en4oys only a !rie mention in the temples pamphlet% Relegated to the margins o most contemporary narratives o medieval historyandculture' MusSoseki <houghMusis mostlykno(nas the genius gardendesigner !ehindsuchimpressivetemples as 9enry34i andSaih4i' !othin#estern$yto% Still' his numerous contri!utions as a prominent prelate and ela!orator o the:ive Mountains system o Rinzai Zen monasteries during a time o social and politicaltur!ulencearelargely neglected no(%)is(orkso poetry' calligraphy'andreligious(ritings have yet to receive signiicant popular or scholarly attention% 2n particular' hisreligioustractDialoguesinaDream +Muchmondsh',-551isahidden4e(elo;uddhistliterature andthat promotes Zenpracticeevenas it insistson the ainities!et(een Zen and other styles o medieval Japanese ;uddhism% 2t e
