Abstract

"A Detailed Commentary on Dogen's Shōbōgenzō": This book provides a comprehensive commentary on the Shōbōgenzō, the masterwork of Dogen (1200-1253), encompassing the 75-volume edition, the 12-volume edition, along with "Shishobo", "Hokke-Ten-Hokke", and "Bendo-Wa" — 90 volumes in total. Shōbōgenzō, which can be translated as "Treasury of the True Dharma Eye", is known not only for its profound truths but also difficulty to comprehend even in modern translations. Therefore, this book aims to elucidate the main purpose of each volume. It is a rare type of publication, excluding commentaries by old monks. The book begins with a general explanation of various editions of the Shōbōgenzō and ends with a bibliography and a chronology of Dogen.

Author’s Information

Kiyotaka Kimura
Born in Kumamoto Prefecture in 1940 (Showa 15). Graduated from the Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Letters, Tokyo University of Education, specializing in ethics. He withdrew from the doctoral program of Indian Philosophy at the Graduate School of Humanities, the University of Tokyo, after earning credits. He holds a PhD in Literature from the University of Tokyo. His specialties are Chinese Huayan thought and East Asian Buddhist thought. He has held positions such as Professor at Shitennoji University, Professor at the University of Tokyo, and President of Tsurumi University. Currently, he serves as an Emeritus Professor at the University of Tokyo, Special Advisor to the Buddhist Culture Research Institute of Tsurumi University, Director of the Todaiji Huayan Studies Institute, Chaplain at Hakodate Juvenile Prison, Director of the Buddhist Missionary Association, and Head Priest of Ryuhouji Temple (Hakodate City, Hokkaido). His main publications include "A Study of Early Chinese Huayan Thought" (Shunjusha), "A History of Chinese Buddhist Thought" (World Scriptures Publishing Association & Purple Books), "A History of Chinese Huayan Thought" (Heirakuji Bookstore), "The Basic Structure of East Asian Buddhist Thought" (Shunjusha), "Introduction to the Avatamsaka Sutra" (KADOKAWA & Kadokawa Sophia Bunko), and his main translations include "The Avatamsaka Sutra" (Chikuma Shobo & Buddhist Sutras Selection 5), "Dasabhumika Sutra, the Ganda-vyuha Sutra, the Bodhisattva-carya-dipani, the Vows of Manjusri and others" (Taisho New Revised Tripitaka) and other co-authored works such as "The Eastward Transmission and Reception of Buddhism (China I & Southern and Northern Dynasties)" (Kosei Publishing Co. & New History of Asian Buddhism 06). He has published numerous papers.