Zen (Chan) is a Mahayana Buddhist school, which developed in China during the Tang dynasty. Ever since it has established its independent identity, Zen is characterised by the tension between a need to be affiliated with the Buddhist tradition and a strong inclination to rebel against it. This tension is reflected in two of the tradition's most fundamental genres: the Discourse Records (Ch. yulu) and Pure Rules (Ch. qinggui). The Discourse Records portray countless examples of iconoclastic approach towards sutras, statues, and various Buddhist rituals. Linji’s (d. 866) statement:”if you meet the Buddha kill the Buddha,” is a typical, albeit radical example of this approach. On the other hand, the Pure Rules dictated a strict behavioural code and elaborated ceremonial conduct, which characterises the life in Zen monasteries to this day. In effect, not only that Zen monks do not burn Buddha sutras, rather like their counterparts in other Buddhist school, they dedicate a significant amount of their time to ritual and worship.

In this course, we will examine the historical and philosophical development of Zen in China, Korea, and Japan, in an attempt to bridge the gap between soteriology and practice. Will discuss elements that have long became identified with Zen such as lineages, transmission, koans, meditation, awakening, etc., from a critical perspective in an attempt to understand them in their religious and cultural context.