The Institute for Zen Studies Aichi Gakuin University

The Institute for Zen Studies Aichi Gakuin University

About us

Outline of the Institute

Outline of the Institute

Outline of the Institute

 The Institute for Zen Studies of Aichi Gakuin University was founded in 1965. The Institute was provided with a new building as well as a traditional Zen meditation hall in 1980, when it was reorganized as an affiliated research center of the university.
 The school philosophy of the university is “Unity of Learning and Practice” and “A Profound Sense of Gratitude towards the Whole World.” With this philosophy the staff members constantly study and disseminate the Zen tradition.

Chronological Table

1876
Aichigakuin was founded as the Nagoya Branch Training Center for Soto Zen Buddhism at Daikoin Temple, Nagoya.
1902
The Training Center was renamed the Third Academy of Soto Zen Buddhism.
1925
The Academy was renamed Aichi Middle School.
1947
Aichi Junior High School was established.
1948
Aichi High School was established.
“Aichigakuin" was decided as the general term.
1950
Aichigakuin Junior College was established.
1953
Aichigakuin University was established.
1958
The Academic Society of Zen Buddhism was founded.
1959
The Aichigakuin ZEN Review (Zengakukenkyu) was first issued.
1965
The Aichigakuin Institute for Zen Studies was founded. Prof.
Yuten ITO was installed as the first Head of the Institute.
1970
Prof. Hakudo TAJIMA was installed as the second Head of the Institute.
Regular study meetings and lectures commenced.
1971
Journal of the Institute for Zen Studies Aichigakuin University (Zen Kenkyusho Kiyo) was first issued.
Annual tour for studying Zen Buddhism commenced.
1976
The Centennial of the founding of Aichigakuin.
World of Zen (Zen no Sekai) was published.
1980
The Institute was renamed the Institute for Zen Studies of Aichigakuin University.
The Research Center and Zen Meditation Hall were constructed.
Regular sessions of Zen meditation commenced.
1988
Prof. Doyu TAKEUCHI was installed as the third Head of the Institute.
1990
Celebrations of the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Institute, and the 10th anniversary of the construction of the Zen Meditation Hall.
1992
World of Zen (Zen no Sekai)II was published.
1995
Prof. Issey NAKASO was installed as the forth Head of the Institute.
Annual tour for collecting research materials for Zen studies commenced.
1996
"Brocaded Priest's Robe(Kesa) in Seven Strips" was presented.
1997
Annual Newsletter was first issued.
2000
Conclusion of the Memorandum for exchange program with the Institute for MT Wutai Buddhist Culture, Shanxi, China.
Celebrations of the 35th anniversary of the founding of the Institute, and the 20th anniversary of the construction of the Zen Meditation Hall.
World of Zen (Zen no Sekai)III was published.
2001
The Research Center was enlarged.)
2005
Prof. Eijin ONO was installed as the fifth Head of the Institute.
2010
Prof. Syuryu OKAJIMA was installed as the sixth Head of the Institute.
2015
Prof. E. SATO assumed the seventh Head of the Inst. Celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Institute, and the 35th anniversary of the construction of the Zen Meditation Hall.
Wisdom of Buddhism, World of Zen (Bukkyo no Chie, Zen no Sekai) and Introduction to Zen Phrases (Zengo ni Shitashimu) were published.
Regular sessions of “Hoko” at the Meijo Koen Campus commenced.

Study Meetings and Lectures

Study Meetings and Lectures

The Institute invites special lecturers two or three times a year to hold Study Meetings for scholars, and Lectures for students and general public. They commenced in 1970.

Monthly Sessions of Zen Meditation

Monthly Sessions of Zen Meditation

The Institute holds Monthly Sessions of Zen Meditation at Zen Meditation Hall every second Tuesday. Each session starts at 5:00 P.M. and lasts about one hour. A special session named “Rohatsu Sesshin" is held on the first Tuesday of December, commemorating the enlightenment of Shakyamuni Buddha on the 8th of December. Anyone interested in Zen, is welcomed to each Session.

Hoko - Meetings of Zen Meditation and Lectures

Hoko - Meetings of Zen Meditation and Lectures

The Institute holds Monthly Meetings in the Hokodai Zen meditation hall on the Meijo Koen Campus. The meeting is called“ Hoko", which means emitting light.
Participants meditate on chairs in the first half of the session (they can practice the authentic Zen meditation if they want), and attend a lecture about Zen and Buddhist tradition in the latter half (green tea and wagashi provided). Each meeting starts at 6:30 P.M. and lasts about one hour. The first meeting was held in September 2015 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Institute.

Annual Tours for Studying Zen Buddhism

Annual Tours for Studying Zen Buddhism

During summer vacation, the Institute conducts annual tours visiting major Soto Zen temples and other religious facilities in several parts of Japan and other countries.
This tour commenced in 1971.

Annual Tours for Collecting Research Materials for Zen Studies

Annual Tours for Collecting Research Materials for Zen Studies

Once a year, staff members of the Institute visit some major Soto Zen temples to collect research materials for Zen studies. This tour commenced in 1995.

Treasure(Brocaded Priest's Robe (Kesa) in Seven Strips)

Treasure

This is a replica of the Priest's Robe (Kesa), which was originally owned by Emperor Shomu and listed in the Kokka Chinpo Cho (Record of the Nation's Rare Treasures) in 8th Century, and which has been preserved at Shosoin, Nara. Mr. Shigeo KAWAMOTO restored the brocade, and Rev. Seiko MIZUNO sewed the Robe. It was presented through ex-Prof. Yahoko MIZUNO at Tokyo Woman's Christian University on the 26th of November 1996

World of Zen (Zen no Sekai), 4 vols.(Series of the Institute)

Treasure

The Institute has published 4 volumes of World of Zen (Zen no Sekai) as the Series of the Institute. Each volume contains about 15 papers written by authorities of Zen and Buddhism. Vol.1 was published in 1976 in commemoration of the centennial of the founding of Aichigakuin, vol.2 in 1992, vol.3 in 2000, and vol.4 in 2015 in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Institute.

Introduction to Zen Phrases

Treasure

This book, published in celebration of 50 years of the Institute, is an explanatory book about Zen phrases for the public. It contains articles, which had been published in the Annual Newsletters as well as other newly written articles by researchers connected with the Institute.

Bulletin

Bulletin

The Institute issues a bulletin for publishing the papers of staff members. Aichigakuin ZEN Review (Zengaku-kenkyu) was first issued in 1959 and discontinued with vol.5 in 1970. It was followed by Journal of the Institute for Zen Studies Aichigakuin University ( Zen Kenkyusho Kiyo), which was first issued in 1971. The Institute issued vol.43 of the Journal in 2015.

Newsletter

Newsletter

The Institute has issued an Annual Newsletter since 1997. The purpose of the Newsletter is to disseminate Zen Buddhism, to report on the activities of the Institute, and to invite people who are interested in Zen Buddhism to several events. Main contents are Essays on Zen, Explanation of Zen phrases, Bookreviews and some reports on the special lectures and the annual tour.

Staffs

ISHIDA, Hisataka
Professor
Indian Philosophy and Buddhist Studies
OMATSU, Hisanori
Associate Prof.
Chinese Buddhist Studies
OKAJIMA, Hidetaka
Professor
Philosophy of Religion. Zen Buddhism
KAWAI, Taiko
Professor
History of Zen Buddhism
KIMURA, Bunki
Professor
History of Indian Thought. Modern Buddhism
KYUMA, Eido
Associate Prof.
Mathematical Logic, Mathematical Philosophy
KONO, Toshihiro
Professor
History of Japanese Dictionaries
SUGAWARA, Kenshu
Associate Prof.
Soto Zen Studies
SEINO, Kodo
Lecturer
Soto Zen Studies and Chinese Buddhist Studies
WASHITAKE, Masamichi
Professor
Systemic Functional Linguistics

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