Zuigaku Rempo Niwa Zenji (1905–1993)[1] was a Japanese Zen master.[1]

Rempo Niwa
丹羽 廉芳
TitleZen Master
Personal
BornFebruary 23, 1905
DiedSeptember 7, 1993 (1993-09-08) (aged 88)
ReligionZen Buddhism
NationalityJapanese
SchoolSōtō
OccupationBuddhist monk

He was born in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.[2] His father was a schoolmaster and his mother was a farmer.[2] After graduating from Tokyo University, he became the head official in Tokei-in[2] and later studied at Antai-ji.[3] At the age of 50,[4] Niwa became the 77th abbot of the Eihei-ji monastery.[1][5] He also received the imperial title of Jikô Enkai Zenji (“Great Zen Master of Compassion, Ocean of Plenitude”).[1]

An avid practitioner of zazen, he rebuilt the zendo (meditation hall) so that the young people in training could better engage in this essential practice.[4] His dharma heirs include Gudō Wafu Nishijima[6][7] and Moriyama Daigyo as well as several teachers affiliated with the Taisen Deshimaru Lineage in Europe.[1] Zenji (literally, "Zen Master") is an honorary title given to the senior Eihei temple (Eihei-ji), headquarters of the Sōtō school, founded in the thirteenth century by Master Dogen.

Outside of Zen, he created brush calligraphy.[8] His work was often credited to various pseudonyms.[8] Niwa died in 1993.[1][2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Niwa, Zuigaku Rempô". Sweeping Zen. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d "Dogen Sangha (4) The Two Reverend Masters". Gudō Wafu Nishijima. 15 August 2006. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  3. ^ Weitsman, Mel; Wenger, Michael; Okumura, Shōhaku (2011). Dogen Zenji's Shobogenzo Genjo-koan. p. 132. ISBN 9781582437439.
  4. ^ a b "Qué es lo que usted desearía saber a propósito del templo" (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  5. ^ Victoria, Brian (2006). Zen at War. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. p. xiii. ISBN 9780742539266.
  6. ^ Warner, Brad (2003). Hardcore Zen: Punk Rock, Monster Movies and the Truth About Reality. Wisdom Publications. p. 52. ISBN 0-86171-380-X.
  7. ^ "OBITUARY: Gudo Wafu Nishijima". Sweeping Zen. 30 January 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  8. ^ a b "About Treeleaf and our Lineage". Retrieved 20 September 2015.