The Man who Transmitted Zen to the World—Soyen Shaku and Modern Japan
Soyen Shaku (1858-1919), a Zen monk who is well known for mentoring Natsume Soseki in Zen Meditation, also has the distinction of being the foremost person to introduce Japanese “ZEN” to the world at the first World Parliament of Religions held in Chicago in 1893, which he attended with the support of Yukichi Fukuzawa. Shaku’s address to the World Parliament, which was translated into English by his disciple D.T. Suzuki, was the start of his continual activities on the global stage up until later life, including exhaustive tours of European, American, and East Asian countries.
Shaku entered Keio University when he was 26 years old despite the opposition of his Zen master, having already established his status as a monk upon completing his training at this remarkably young age. He learned English and also studied abroad in British Ceylon (present-day Sri Lanka). Shaku grappled with the issue of “modernity” throughout his life having witnessed firsthand the circumstances around Asia and gaining a relative perspective of the Japanese Buddhist Schools, as well as Buddhism in general, in relation to other world religions. In this exhibition, we shall explore Shaku’s youth for traces of his astute international insight and cultural fluency from approximately 100 exhibits, including items on public display for the first time.
Date
June 4 (Mon.) - August 6 (Mon.), 2018
Venue
Venue 1: Mita Media Center (Keio University Library) Exhibition Space
Venue 2: Keio University Art Space
Audience
Open to everyone
Cost
free
Enquiries and bookings
Keio University Fukuzawa Memorial Center for Modern Japanese Studies
2-15-45 Mita. Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8345
Tel: 03-5427- 1604
pj.ca.oiek.ofni@cmf
Exhibition［Treasures from Century Cultural Foundation］
Date
[Venue 1] Mita Media Center (Keio University Library) Exhibition Space
Open: Weekdays 9:00 - 18:20 (until 16:50 on Saturdays)
Closed: Sundays, public holidays
[Venue 2] Keio University Art Space
Open: Weekdays 10:00–17:00
Closed: Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays (open on June 23 and July 21)
[Notice]
The exhibition catalogue is sold only in Venue 2, whose holidays are different from those of Venue 1.
Venue
Venue 1: Mita Media Center (Keio University Library) Exhibition Room
2-15-45, Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-8345
[Located on Keio University Mita Campus]
Venue2: Keio University Art Space
[Located on the ground floor of Keio University South Annex]
Audience
Open to everyone
Cost
free
Enquiries and bookings
Keio University Fukuzawa Memorial Center for Modern Japanese Studies
2-15-45 Mita. Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8345
Tel: 03-5427- 1604
pj.ca.oiek.ofni@cmf
Organiser(s)
Hosts: Enkaku-ji, Head Temple (daihonzan) of Rinzai Sect; Keio University Fukuzawa Memorial Center for Modern Japanese Studies (main coordinator); Keio University Art Center (KUAC); Mita Media Center (Keio University Library)
Introductions and Checklist
Introductions and Checklist in English (PDF, A4, 118KB)
Checklist in Japanese（PDF, A5, 249KB）
Materials in the exhibition
- Soyen Shaku in Western Attire (1905), Tokei-ji
- Seated statue of Manjushri Bodhisattva (Muromachi Period), Engaku-ji
- Calligraphy of Soyen Shaku, written in Pali Language using Sinhala character (c. 1890), Tokei-ji
- Ryu'u Shimazaki, Depiction of Soyen Shaku (Taisho Period), Tokei-ji *Term 2 only
