Sōtō

Sōtō is a big group of Zen Buddhists

. It started in China a long time ago. A man named Dōgen brought it to Japan.

He lived in the 13th century.

People in this group practice a special kind of sitting. They sit still to watch their thoughts. They let thoughts come and go. This is called meditation.

There are many temples for Sōtō. One important leader was named Keizan.

He helped the group grow.

Today, Sōtō is popular in many lands. It is not just in Japan anymore. People in the West practice it too.

It is one of the largest groups in Japan. Many people still follow these old ways.

Sōtō Zen is a large group of Zen Buddhists in Japan.

It began in China a long time ago. A monk named Dongshan Liangjie started the school there. Later, a man named Dōgen brought these ideas to Japan.

He lived in the 13th century. Dōgen is a very important leader for this group.

People in Sōtō Zen practice a special kind of meditation. They use a way called Shikantaza. This means they sit still without any objects to focus on. They watch their thoughts move like a stream. They let thoughts come and go without stopping them.

Another great leader was named Keizan.

He helped the group grow very large. Sōtō has about 14,000 temples in Japan today. It is one of the biggest Buddhist groups there.

Sōtō Zen is also popular in the West now. In 1996, priests formed a group in North America. They help share these old ways with new people. Many people still study the writings of Dōgen to learn more.

Sōtō Zen is a major branch of Japanese Buddhism.

It is the largest of the three traditional Zen sects in Japan. The other two main groups are Rinzai and Ōbaku. This tradition has roots in China. It comes from the Caodong school. That school was started by a monk named Dongshan Liangjie. He lived during the Tang dynasty in the ninth century.

Some people believe the name comes from the names of Dongshan and his student. Others think the name has a deeper meaning about teachings.

People in this tradition practice a specific type of meditation. This practice is called Shikantaza. It means meditating without any objects or anchors to hold onto.

A person sits and stays aware of their thoughts. They watch thoughts arise and pass away like a stream. They do not try to interfere with the thoughts. They simply let them flow by. This way of sitting is a core part of their belief system. It helps them focus on being present in the moment.

In the 13th century, the tradition moved to Japan. A monk named Dōgen Zenji brought these teachings across the sea. He had studied in China before returning home. Dōgen is often called the ancestor of Sōtō Zen in Japan. He founded Eihei-ji in 1243. This temple is still one of the two main head temples today.

Dōgen was succeeded by his student, Koun Ejō. Ejō was a very important leader who kept the traditions alive. He even wrote a journal about his talks with Dōgen.

Another very important figure was a man named Keizan.

He is often called the second most important person in Sōtō. Keizan was very active in spreading the faith. He traveled across Japan for three years when he was young. He helped establish several important temples like Sōji-ji.

Because of leaders like Keizan, the group grew very large. Today, Sōtō has about 14,000 temples throughout Japan. It remains one of the biggest Buddhist organizations in the country.

Sōtō Zen has also spread far beyond Japan. It is now quite popular in Western countries. In 1996, priests formed the Soto Zen Buddhist Association. This group is based in North America. Many people in the West study the old writings of Dōgen. They look at his famous book called the Shōbōgenzō. This helps them understand the deep ideas of the tradition. Even though it is very old, it continues to reach new people everywhere.

Sōtō Zen is the largest of the three traditional Zen sects in Japanese Buddhism.

The other two main branches are Rinzai and Ōbaku. This tradition represents the Japanese lineage of the Chinese Caodong school. The Caodong school was established in China during the ninth century. A monk named Dongshan Liangjie founded this original school during the Tang dynasty.

Some scholars believe the name Sōtō comes from the names of Dongshan and his disciple, Caoshan Benji. Others suggest the name refers to colleagues of the teachings above the caves. This name implies followers who admire the masters of various sects.

The core of Sōtō practice is a method called Shikantaza. This term refers to meditation without any specific objects, anchors, or content.

A practitioner strives to remain aware of the continuous stream of thoughts. They allow these thoughts to arise and pass away without any interference. This process is often compared to watching a stream flow by. The goal is to be present without trying to control the mind. This specific style of meditation was influenced by the writings of Hongzhi Zhengjue. His work on "silent illumination" helped shape the modern understanding of Shikantaza.

Sōtō Zen arrived in Japan during the 13th century. The monk Dōgen Zenji brought these teachings to Japan in 1227. He had studied Ch'an Buddhism in China before returning home. Dōgen is recognized as the primary ancestor of the sect in Japan. In 1243, he founded Eihei-ji, which is now one of the two head temples.

Dōgen was followed by his disciple, Koun Ejō. Ejō was a significant leader who recorded conversations with Dōgen in a journal. This journal emphasized an austere approach to Zen Buddhism. Ejō resisted adding outside practices like building new statues or temples.

History shows that the sect grew through different branches and leaders. A large group from the Daruma school joined Dōgen's community in 1241. This group included Gikai, who later became an influential abbot. Gikai introduced esoteric elements into the practice, which caused some internal opposition. After Ejō died, a controversy known as the sandai sōron occurred. This period involved disagreements over the legitimacy of different leaders. Eventually, Gikai was forced to leave Eihei-ji and was exiled to Kaga Province.

Another vital figure in Sōtō history is Keizan Jōkin.

He is often considered the second most important ancestor. Keizan received his ordination from Ejō when he was only twelve years old. He spent three years on a pilgrimage throughout Japan to study various traditions. Keizan helped establish several major centers, including Sōji-ji.

While Dōgen is the "koso" or founder, Keizan is known as the "taiso." For a long time, the Sōtō community recognized several important ancestors alongside Dōgen. In 1877, the community even briefly acknowledged Keizan as the overall founder.

During the Edo period, the Sōtō school faced strict state control. The ruling government saw large Buddhist organizations as a political threat. To manage this, the state centralized the temple hierarchy. The bakufu declared that the standards of Eihei-ji must be the rule for all Sōtō monks. This led to a growing emphasis on the written authority of Dōgen. Reformers like Manzan Dokahu and Gentō Sokuchū worked to reshape the sect. Gentō Sokuchū even tried to purify the school by de-emphasizing the use of kōans. These changes helped elevate Dōgen's writings to a central, normative position.

Today, Sōtō Zen is a massive global organization. It maintains approximately 14,000 temples throughout Japan. The tradition has also spread significantly into the Western world. In 1996, priests in North America formed the Soto Zen Buddhist Association. Modern practitioners often study the Shōbōgenzō, which is a major work by Dōgen. While many people visit temples for funerals, the tradition continues to engage with spiritual seekers. It remains a complex system of lineage, study, and meditation.