Zen And The Regent Generals Of The Ho-jo Period

: HISTORY OF ZEN IN JAPAN

No wonder, then, that the representatives of the Samurai class, the

Regent Generals, especially such able rulers as Toki-yori, Toki-mune,

and others noted for their good administration, of the Ho-jo period

(1205-1332) greatly favoured Zen. They not only patronized the

faith, building great temples[FN#88] and inviting best Chinese Zen

teachers[FN#89] but also lived just as Zen monks, having the head

shaven, wearing a h ly robe, and practising cross-legged Meditation.





[FN#88] To-fuku-ji, the head temple of a sub-sect of the Rin Zai

under the same name, was built in 1243. Ken-cho-ji, the head temple

of a subsect of the Rin Zai under the same name, was built in 1253.

En-gaku ji, the head temple of a sub-sect of the Rin Zai under the

same name, was built in 1282. Nan-zen-ji, the head temple of a

sub-sect of the Rin Zai under the same name, was erected in 1326.



[FN#89] Tao Lung (Do-ryu), known as Dai-kaku Zen-ji, invited by

Tokiyori, came over to Japan in 1246. He became the founder of

Ken-cho-ji-ha, a sub-sect of the Rin Zai, and died in 1278. Of his

disciples, Yaku-o was most noted, and Yaku-o's disciple, Jaku-shitsu,

became the founder of Yo-genji-ha, another sub-sect of the Rin Zai.

Tsu Yuen (So-gen), known as Buk-ko-koku-shi, invited by Toki-mune,

crossed the sea in 1280, became the founder of En-gaku-ji-ha (a

sub-sect of the Rin Zai), and died in 1286. Tsing Choh (Sei-setsu),

invited by Taka-toki, came in 1327, and died in 1339. Chu Tsun

(So-shun) came in 1331, and died in 1336. Fan Sien (Bon-sen) came

together with Chu Tsun, and died in 1348. These were the prominent

Chinese teachers of that time.





Toki-yori (1247-1263), for instance, who entered the monastic life

while be was still the real governor of the country, led as simple a

life, as is shown in his verse, which ran as follows:



Higher than its bank the rivulet flows;

Greener than moss tiny grass grows.

No one call at my humble cottage on the rock,

But the gate by itself opens to the Wind's knock.



Toki-yori attained to Enlightenment by the instruction of Do-gen and

Do-ryu, and breathed his last calmly sitting cross-legged, and

expressing his feelings in the following lines:



Thirty-seven of years,

Karma mirror stood high;

Now I break it to pieces,

Path of Great is then nigh.



His successor, Toki-mune (1264-1283), a bold statesman and soldier,

was no less of a devoted believer in Zen. Twice he beheaded the

envoys sent by the great Chinese conqueror, Kublai, who demanded

Japan should either surrender or be trodden under his foot. And when

the alarming news of the Chinese Armada's approaching the land

reached him, be is said to have called on his tutor, Tsu Yuen, to

receive the last instruction. Now, reverend sir, said. he, an

imminent peril threatens the land. How art thou going to encounter

it? asked the master. Then Toki-mune burst into a thundering Ka

with all his might to show his undaunted spirit in encountering the

approaching enemy. O, the lion's roar! said Tsu Yuen.



Thou art a genuine lion. Go, and never turn back. Thus encouraged

by the teacher, the Regent General sent out the defending army, and

successfully rescued the state from the mouth of destruction, gaining

a splendid victory over the invaders, almost all of whom perished in

the western seas.