Eihei Dogen (Founder of Soto Zen in Japan)
Religious Figures & Theologians • Historical Archive • 🇯🇵 Japan • 17 views

Eihei Dogen (Founder of Soto Zen in Japan) 🇯🇵

道元禅師 (Dōgen Zenji) (Known as "Dogen")
Founder of the Soto School of Zen, Author of Shobogenzo, Philosopher of Being-Time & Zazen
Born 26 January 1200 CE 🇯🇵 Kyoto, Japan
Passed Away 29 September 1253 CE Kyoto, Japan
Lifespan 53 years old
17 views
Notice / Correction
"To study the Buddha Way is to study the self. To study the self is to forget the self. To forget the self is to be actualized by myriad things. When you find your place where you are, practice occurs."

Archival Overview

Thirteenth-century Japanese philosopher and monk who brought Soto Zen from China, founded Eihei-ji Temple, and authored the Shobogenzo (Treasury of the True Dharma Eye). Revolutionized philosophy with his concept of Being-Time (Uji).

Biographical Record

Born into aristocratic Minamoto nobility in Kyoto and orphaned in childhood, Dogen was haunted by the Buddhist question: "If all beings inherently possess Buddha-nature, why do we need to engage in strenuous practice?" Traveling to Song China in 1223, he attained enlightenment under Master Rujing through "dropping off body and mind" (Shinjin datsuraku).

Returning to Japan, he rejected imperial court politics to build Eihei-ji in the snowy mountains of Echizen, teaching that seated meditation (Zazen) is not a means to enlightenment, but enlightenment itself actively realized.

Key Life Milestones

1225 CE

Dropping of Body and Mind in China

Awakened under Master Rujing at Tiantong Monastery upon hearing the words "Cast off body and mind."

1231–1253 CE

Writing the Shobogenzo

Authored ninety-five philosophical chapters of the Shobogenzo, revolutionizing Zen ontological inquiry.

1244 CE

Founding of Eihei-ji Monastery

Established Eihei-ji in the mountains of Echizen as the eternal sanctuary of pure Zazen practice.

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Final Resting Place

Perpetual Memorial
Eihei-ji Temple Mausoleum
Kyoto, Japan
GPS: 36.0558, 136.3553
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