Table Display Fans :: Bodhidharma Table Fan

All things have a story...

Zen Buddhism began in China, where it was called “chan” and was imported to Japan in the 7th century. Unlike other forms of Buddhism, Zen does not utilize chanting and texts, instead placing great emphasis on meditation. Even the name “Zen” means “meditation.” It is more a philosophy than a religion and is a mind-to-mind or heart-to-heart tradition.

The first real Zen master did not appear until 637. His name was Hui-Neng. When Zen first made its way to Japan, it had great appeal with the ruling class, namely the military. Perhaps the practical aspects of Zen appealed to the military rulers. That is why the combination of samurai and Zen is so popular and widely seen, such as in the movie “The Last Samurai”. In Zen, one does not worship, but rather practices meditation and mindfulness. Tea ceremonies, brush painting, archery and the attaining enlightenment are all common aspects associated with Zen.

By the fourteenth century, Zen became the dominant sect of Buddhism in Japan. Artistic expression using Zen characters became a popular them in Japanese art as well. The historical founder of Zen, Bodhidharma, is often depicted in Japanese ink and brush paintings. Bodhidharma was originally believed to be from India. He brought Buddhism to China and many Zen practitioners believed he was the first Zen Buddhist. The goal of Zen is to reach satori, or enlightenment. The way to achieve satori is through zazen, or sitting meditation. By meditating for many hours each day, one can eventually control their thoughts and eventually clear them. This is the so-called “sky-mind” of Zen. To do this, practitioners sit in a zendo or meditation hall with other Zen-minded people.

Nowadays only 8 percent of Buddhists in Japan identify themselves with Zen. Despite that low number, Zen is still one of the most influential ideas to come out of Japan. The West began to learn of Zen in the 1950s and it garnered a good deal of attention in the 1960s and 70s. In the U.S., Zen is now the most widely practiced form of Buddhism and many zendos exist throughout the U.S. where Zen practitioners meditate.