2024 Volume 41 Pages 74-86
The paper investigates the formulation of the concept of shūyō in the aftermath of the second “Clash between Education and Religion” Controversy, with a focus on Zen layperson Katō Totsudō (1890-1949). Totsudō, driven by his adherence to the Imperial Rescript on Education, aspired to enhance society through the moral advancement of Buddhism. This ambition faced obstacles with the Ministry of Education’s prohibition of religious education in July 1899. Amid the ensuing controversy, Totsudō, who believed in the indispensability of Buddhism for morality, aligned with the “ethical religion” advocated by philosopher Inoue Tetsujirō (1856-1944). He argued for his own version of Zen-inspired “ethical religion,” replacing Tetsujirō’s “phenomena are reality” (genshō soku jitsuzai) theory with the Buddhist doctrine of the three treasures. As a critic of contemporary Zen, Totsudō looked to Suzuki Shōsan (1575-1655) for the foundational principles of Zen tradition, adapting his “self-powered other-power nembutsu” ( jiriki no tariki no nenbutsu) into a form of modern self-cultivation. In the pursuit of societal transformation through Buddhism and morality, as well as the exploration of the “self,” Totsudō responded to the contextual demands of his time by developing a concept of shūyō that, from his perspective, transcended both temporal and sectarian boundaries.
