Keizan

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Keizan 瑩山 Jokin Zenji, also known as Taiso Josai Daishi, was the second of the great founders of Soto Zen in Japan. Keizan's title of Taiso, Greatest Patriarch, is in contrast with Dogen Zenji's title, Koso, the Highest Patriarch. Keizan Zenji is credited with spreading Soto Zen all across Japan, transforming it from an austere monastic practice for small numbers of full-time devotees to the most popular religion in Japan, in large part by adopting non-Zen ceremonies and scriptures, reinterpreting them in accordance with Zen. Keizan Zenji founded Sojiji temple in Yokohama. Sojiji and Dogen Zenji's Eiheiji, are the two principal Soto Zen training centers and cathedrals of Soto Zen in Japan.

Keizan's Denkoroku koan collection follows the Zen lineage from Shakyamuni Buddha through Bodhidharma and the lineage from then to Dogen Zenji and his first two successors.

[edit] References

• Roshi P. T. N. Jiyu Kennett, Zen is Eternal Life, Shasta Abbey Press, 4th edition, 2000, ISBN 0930066200
• Keizan Zenji, Denkoroku, translated by Rev. Hubert Nearman, Shasta Abbey Press, 2001, ISBN 0930066227