Kosho Uchiyama
Encyclopedia
was a Sōtō
priest, origami
master, and the former abbot of Antaiji near Kyoto, Japan.
The author of more than twenty books on Zen Buddhism and origami—of which Opening the Hand of Thought: Foundations of Zen Buddhist Practice is best-known—Uchiyama graduated from Waseda University
with a masters degree in Western philosophy
in 1937 and was ordained a priest in 1941 by his teacher Kodo Sawaki
. Throughout his life, Uchiyama had lived with the damaging effects of tuberculosis
. He became abbot of Antaiji following Sawaki's death in 1965 until he retired in 1975 to Nokei-in, also near Kyoto, where he lived with his wife. Following the death of his teacher he led a forty-nine day sesshin
in memorial of his teacher. In retirement he continued his writing, the majority of which consisted of poetry
.
Soto
Sōtō Zen , or is, with Rinzai and Ōbaku, one of the three most populous sects of Zen in Japanese Buddhism.The Sōtō sect was first established as the Caodong sect during the Tang Dynasty in China by Dongshan Liangjie in the 9th century, which Dōgen Zenji then brought to Japan in the 13th century...
priest, origami
Origami
is the traditional Japanese art of paper folding, which started in the 17th century AD at the latest and was popularized outside Japan in the mid-1900s. It has since then evolved into a modern art form...
master, and the former abbot of Antaiji near Kyoto, Japan.
The author of more than twenty books on Zen Buddhism and origami—of which Opening the Hand of Thought: Foundations of Zen Buddhist Practice is best-known—Uchiyama graduated from Waseda University
Waseda University
, abbreviated as , is one of the most prestigious private universities in Japan and Asia. Its main campuses are located in the northern part of Shinjuku, Tokyo. Founded in 1882 as Tokyo Senmon Gakko, the institution was renamed "Waseda University" in 1902. It is known for its liberal climate...
with a masters degree in Western philosophy
Western philosophy
Western philosophy is the philosophical thought and work of the Western or Occidental world, as distinct from Eastern or Oriental philosophies and the varieties of indigenous philosophies....
in 1937 and was ordained a priest in 1941 by his teacher Kodo Sawaki
Kodo Sawaki
is considered by some to be the most important Japanese Zen master of the 20th century. His parents died early, and he grew up being adopted by a gambler and an ex-prostitute. When he was 16, he ran away from home to become a monk at Eihei-ji, one of the two main temples of Sōtō Zen. At first...
. Throughout his life, Uchiyama had lived with the damaging effects of tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
. He became abbot of Antaiji following Sawaki's death in 1965 until he retired in 1975 to Nokei-in, also near Kyoto, where he lived with his wife. Following the death of his teacher he led a forty-nine day sesshin
Sesshin
A sesshin , literally "touching the heart-mind" , is a period of intensive meditation in a Zen monastery....
in memorial of his teacher. In retirement he continued his writing, the majority of which consisted of poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
.
External links
- Seven chapters from Uchiyama's book "The Zen Teaching of 'Homeless Kodo'"
- Two texts by Kosho Uchiyama
- Kosho Uchiyama: "To you who has decided to become a Zen monk"
- http://www.zen.ite.pl/masters/kosho_uchiyama.html (Polish language)