Hisamatsu Shinichi
Encyclopedia
was a philosopher, Zen
Buddhist scholar, and Japanese tea ceremony
(sadō or chadō, 茶道, "the way of tea") master. He was also a professor at Kyoto University
and received an honorary doctoral degree from Harvard University
.
, Japan. He entered the Kyoto University
in 1912 and studied philosophy with Dr. Kitaro Nishida, who was the most prominent philosopher in Japan and the author of An Inquiry into the Good. With Nishida’s recommendation, Shinichi Hisamatsu joined the Rinzai Zen monastery at Myoshinji temple in Kyoto in 1915 and studied Zen Buddhism with Zen Master Shosan Ikegami. After his monastic life at Myoshinji temple, he established his original philosophical view, which consists of both Eastern (mainly, Zen Buddhism) and Western philosophy. Shortly after that, Hisamatsu received a doctorate degree from the Kyoto University.
Between 1943 and 1949, he taught Philosophy and Religious Studies at the Kyoto University. While in Kyoto, Dr. Hisamatsu frequently discussed Zen Buddhism and philosophy with D.T. Suzuki at Shunkoin temple, where Dr. Hisamatsu lived. Hisamatsu also became the teacher of Masao Abe.
Dr. Hoseki Shinichi Hisamatsu was a founder of the FAS Society. The FAS Society’s origin, Gakudo Dojo, was established by students of Kyoto University under the guidance of Dr. Hisamatsu. In 1960, Gakudo Dojo was renamed the FAS Society for their international activities. The purpose of this society is to spread the standpoint of the fundamental of self-awakening of all mankind.
In the Netherlands and Belgium the message of Hisamatsu is kept alive by Zen master Ton Lathouwers.
Zen
Zen is a school of Mahāyāna Buddhism founded by the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma. The word Zen is from the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese word Chán , which in turn is derived from the Sanskrit word dhyāna, which can be approximately translated as "meditation" or "meditative state."Zen...
Buddhist scholar, and Japanese tea ceremony
Tea ceremony
A tea ceremony is a ritualised form of making tea. The term generally refers to either chayi Chinese tea ceremony, chado Japanese tea ceremony, tarye Korean tea ceremony. The Japanese tea ceremony is more well known, and was influenced by the Chinese tea ceremony during ancient and medieval times....
(sadō or chadō, 茶道, "the way of tea") master. He was also a professor at Kyoto University
Kyoto University
, or is a national university located in Kyoto, Japan. It is the second oldest Japanese university, and formerly one of Japan's Imperial Universities.- History :...
and received an honorary doctoral degree from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
.
Biography
Shin'ichi Hisamatsu was born in Gifu PrefectureGifu Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the Chūbu region of central Japan. Its capital is the city of Gifu.Located in the center of Japan, it has long played an important part as the crossroads of Japan, connecting the east to the west through such routes as the Nakasendō...
, Japan. He entered the Kyoto University
Kyoto University
, or is a national university located in Kyoto, Japan. It is the second oldest Japanese university, and formerly one of Japan's Imperial Universities.- History :...
in 1912 and studied philosophy with Dr. Kitaro Nishida, who was the most prominent philosopher in Japan and the author of An Inquiry into the Good. With Nishida’s recommendation, Shinichi Hisamatsu joined the Rinzai Zen monastery at Myoshinji temple in Kyoto in 1915 and studied Zen Buddhism with Zen Master Shosan Ikegami. After his monastic life at Myoshinji temple, he established his original philosophical view, which consists of both Eastern (mainly, Zen Buddhism) and Western philosophy. Shortly after that, Hisamatsu received a doctorate degree from the Kyoto University.
Between 1943 and 1949, he taught Philosophy and Religious Studies at the Kyoto University. While in Kyoto, Dr. Hisamatsu frequently discussed Zen Buddhism and philosophy with D.T. Suzuki at Shunkoin temple, where Dr. Hisamatsu lived. Hisamatsu also became the teacher of Masao Abe.
Dr. Hoseki Shinichi Hisamatsu was a founder of the FAS Society. The FAS Society’s origin, Gakudo Dojo, was established by students of Kyoto University under the guidance of Dr. Hisamatsu. In 1960, Gakudo Dojo was renamed the FAS Society for their international activities. The purpose of this society is to spread the standpoint of the fundamental of self-awakening of all mankind.
In the Netherlands and Belgium the message of Hisamatsu is kept alive by Zen master Ton Lathouwers.
Further reading
- Shinichi Hisamatsu (2002), Zen Talks On The Record Of Linji. Hisamatsu's Talks on Linji. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 9780824823849