3 Reasons Why Samurai Were Drawn to Zen
3 Reasons Why Samurai Were Drawn to Zen Many samurai admired the spirit of Zen and practiced it. Here are three reasons why: 1: Timing and Historical Context The connection between the samurai and Zen Buddhism is partly due to timing. The Kamakura Shogunate, Japan’s first military government, was established in 1185, around the same time as the arrival of Zen Buddhism in Japan. Rinzai Zen was introduced in 1191, and Sōtō Zen in 1227, both during the Kamakura period (1185-1333). The Kamakura Shogunate, distanced from the established Heian Buddhism (Shingon and Tendai sects), found common ground with the new Zen sect. Eisai, the founder of Rinzai Zen in Japan, sought protection from the Kamakura Shogunate after facing persecution from existing religious groups. Thus, the Kamakura and later Muromachi (1336-1573) Shogunate supported Rinzai Zen. Meanwhile, Sōtō Zen spread among regional samurai, local lords, and common people. 2: Compatibility with the Samurai Spirit Zen is a religion of self-reliance, teaching the importance of self-discipline and inner strength, resonating with the disciplined and independent nature of the samurai. The rigorous, self-disciplined path of Zen, focusing on achieving enlightenment through personal training, matched the warrior ethos. Unlike other emerging