Dōgen

Japanese Zen Buddhist teacher (1200-1253)

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Lived 1200–1253, aged 53Japan

Japan AcademicsAcademic

Wikipedia
44 languages
Cross-language footprint
Era
1200–1253
Aged 53

Summary

Updated 2026-06-09

A 13th-century monk who walked away from Kyoto's establishment Buddhism, sailed to China for the real thing, and came back to plant sitting meditation at the center of Japanese Zen — then wrote the texts that still anchor Sōtō practice today.

Biography

About

Dōgen Zenji was ordained in Kyoto's Tendai School but found it hollow, so in his twenties he left for China to find what he considered authentic Buddhism. He trained for four years under Tiāntóng Rújìng, a master of the Cáodòng Chan lineage, then returned to Japan and began teaching zazen — sitting meditation — through works like Fukanzazengi and Bendōwa. Tensions with Tendai forced him out of Kyoto; he moved to what is now Fukui Prefecture and founded Eihei-ji, which became one of the two head temples of the Sōtō school he established. His Shōbōgenzō, a sprawling treatise considered his maste…

Voice

In their own words

Sourced, dated quotes from Dōgen

Dōgen

said1238

Zazen is the ultimate practice. This is indeed the True Self. The Buddhadharma is not to be sought outside of this.

— II, 22

Dōgen

said1238

Just practice good, do good for others, without thinking of making yourself known so that you may gain reward. Really bring benefit to others, gaining nothing for yourself.

— III, 3

Dōgen

said1238