The Introduction of Zen Buddhism in Japan

Carl Kiefer: Ivy Academy Charter School, Chattanooga, TN

9th Grade World History/ Geography

NCTA- 2016

Expected Length of Lesson: Two 50 minute class periods

Materials Needed: Steven Heine’s article “Dogen: His Life, Religion, and Poetry,”Education About Asia Volume 20, No. 2, Fall 2015 (5 pages.)

Dogen, “How to Practice Buddhism (Bendowa)” Sources of East Asian Tradition Volume One, edited by Wm. Theodore de Bary (Columbia University Press, 2008), 792-797

Lesson Plan

  1. Lesson Objective: To introduce the class to the concept and benefits of the practice of Zen Buddhism, as well as provide a history of its origin during medieval Japan, and to familiarize students with the influences of Dogen in the spread of Zen Buddhism in Japan. Students will reconstruct the development of Zen Buddhism and trace how it spread through Japan.
  2. Connection to Course Goals and Standards: Culture- 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, Geography- 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, History- 5.3, 5.4, 5.11, Individuals, Groups, and Interactions- 6.2, 6.3
  3. Guiding Question: Students will write a paragraph listing and explaining the 5 things they would like to change about their life (habits, behaviors, relationships, etc.). Student answers will remain confidential.
  4. Introduction: Today we are going to study the introduction of Zen Buddhism across the island nation of Japan in the 13th century. Dogen was in some ways introducing a more complex belief system to some Japanese than what existed in Europe at the time. Having studied under the tutelage of the Zen master, Rujing, from 1223 to 1227 in China, he returned to his native Japan to establish a monastery Echizen and found the Soto sect of Japanese Buddhism.
  5. Procedure: Step 1. (Day One) Students will read the text from Steven Heine’s article “Dogen: His Life, Religion, and Poetry,”Education About Asia Volume 20, No. 2, Fall 2015 (5 pages.) Step 2. Students will answer questions concerning the history of medieval Japan, the concept and benefits of practicing Zen meditation, the influences in Dogen’s life and studies, and the spread of Zen Buddhism through Japan. Step 3. (Day Two) Students will read Dogen, “How to Practice Buddhism (Bendowa)” Sources of East Asian Tradition Volume One, edited by Wm. Theodore de Bary (Columbia University Press, 2008), 792-797. Step 4. Students will answer questions on the reading concerning the koans of Dogen particularly the one presented in the reading involving a conversation between a fifth and sixth ancestor about the question of “What is Zen?”
  6. Assessment: Students will be assessed according to their answers to questions drawn from the readings.
  7. Conclusion: To wrap up this lesson, students will be asked to reflect on the Guiding Question: Considering the five things you would like to change in your life, do you think Zen Buddhism could be a useful practice? Why? Why do you think its introduction to medieval Japan was so successful?

References:

The National Consortium for Teaching about Asia-The Ohio State University