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Iron Eyes: The Life and Teachings of Obaku Zen Master Tetsugen Doko
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Iron Eyes: The Life and Teachings of Obaku Zen Master Tetsugen Doko Hardcover - 2006

by Helen J. Baroni


From the publisher

Iron Eyes focuses on the Japanese Zen master Tetsugen Doko (1630-1682), the best-known exponent of Ōbaku in Japan and the West. Ōbaku Zen arose during the seventeenth century and became the third major Zen sect in Japan. Ōbaku monks encouraged the laity to deepen their knowledge of and commitment to Buddhism. Tetsugen is credited with producing the first complete wood block edition of the Chinese Buddhist scriptures in Japan. Legend has it that Tetsugen had to raise the money for the project three times: twice his great compassion led him to give away the money he had raised to the starving victims of natural disasters. This Zen story is well-known in Japan and has gained popularity among contemporary Buddhists in the West. The first part of this book offers an introduction and a series of analytical chapters describing Tetsugen's life, work, and teachings, as well as the legends related to him. The second part comprises annotated translations of his major teaching texts, important letters and other historical documents, a selection of his poetry, and several traditional biographies.

Details

  • Title Iron Eyes: The Life and Teachings of Obaku Zen Master Tetsugen Doko
  • Author Helen J. Baroni
  • Binding Hardcover
  • Edition annotated editio
  • Pages 270
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher State University of New York Press
  • Date 2006-10
  • Features Annotated, Bibliography, Index
  • ISBN 9780791468913 / 0791468917
  • Weight 1.5 lbs (0.68 kg)
  • Dimensions 9.4 x 6.1 x 1 in (23.88 x 15.49 x 2.54 cm)
  • Themes
    • Interdisciplinary Studies: Asian - General
    • Religious Orientation: Buddhist
  • Library of Congress subjects Tetsugen Doko, Priests, Zen - Japan
  • Library of Congress Catalog Number 2005036301
  • Dewey Decimal Code B

About the author

Helen J. Baroni is Associate Professor of Religion at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and the author of ?baku Zen: The Emergence of the Third Sect of Zen in Tokugawa Japan and The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Zen Buddhism.