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Wisdom within Words is the first complete bilingual edition and annotated translation of the poetry collection entitled
Kuchugen, which features 150 Chinese-style verses (kanshi) written by D¿gen Zenji (1200-1253), founder of the Soto Zen sect in early medieval Japan and compiled by Menzan.
List of contents
- Preface: Investigations
- Chapter One. Textual and Interpretative History of D¿gen's Sinitic Poetry
- Chapter Two. The Question of D¿gen as Poet
- Translations
- Chapter Three: Wisdom Within Words: Translation with Comments
- Chapter Four: Supplementary Poems from D¿gen's Extensive Record
- Appendix
- Glossary
- Bibliography
- Index
About the author
Steven Heine is Professor of Religious Studies and History and founding director of the Asian Studies Program at Florida International University. He has published three dozen monographs and edited volumes on the history and thought of Zen Buddhism in East Asia, with a special emphasis on the life and teachings of the master Dōgen.
Summary
Wisdom within Words is the first complete bilingual edition and annotated translation of the poetry collection entitled Kuchugen, which features 150 Chinese-style verses (kanshi) written by Dogen Zenji (1200-1253), founder of the Soto Zen sect in early medieval Japan and compiled by Menzan.
Additional text
He offers a translation alongside the original kanbun text as well as his verse-by-verse interpretative comments of the Kuchūgen (rendered by Heine as "Wisdom within Words"), a poetry collection comprising 149 of (altogether around 450 of) Dōgen's kanshi (Chinese-style poems)...Heine notes the significance of the Kuchūgen, which has served "as a study guide routinely memorized and recited or copied as part of contemplative training".
