Kōdō Sawaki
Prominent 20th-century Japanese Sōtō Zen teacher known for popularizing meditation.
Quick Facts: Who was Kōdō Sawaki?
- Subject:
- Kōdō Sawaki
- Known for:
- Prominent 20th-century Japanese Sōtō Zen teacher known for popularizing meditation.
- Born:
- 1880-06-16
- Died:
- 1965-12-21
- Century / Era:
- 1880s Historical Era Archive
- Verified Source:
- 2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives
Origins & Early Life
Kodo Sawaki (沢木 興道, Sawaki Kōdō; June 16, 1880 – December 21, 1965) was a prominent Japanese Sōtō Zen teacher of the 20th century. He is considered to be one of the most significant Zen priests of his time for bringing Zen practice, in particular meditation, into the lives of laypeople and popularizing the ancient tradition of sewing the kesa. Sawaki was born in Tsu, Mie on June 16, 1880. He was the sixth child but born into a happy and wealthy home. Both his parents died when he was young, his mother when he was four and his father three years later.
Career & Major Achievements
Sawaki was then adopted by an aunt whose husband soon died. After this, Sawaki was raised by a lantern maker named Bunkichi Sawaki who had eleven wives and used Kodo for labor, turned the home into a gambling parlor at night, and beat him. When he was 9, one of his neighbors died at a brothel while with a much younger prostitute, and upon viewing the scene of the aftermath Sawaki stated it created an intense feeling of emptiness in him, more than his parents' deaths, and he realized things cannot be hidden. Sawaki was described as a tough street kid though he also visited Buddhist Pure Land temples. As a child, he saw a group of chanting monks return to their temple after being out begging and is said to have found peace that contrasted with his difficult upbringing.
Enduring Legacy & Impact
Sawaki realized there was a world of beauty in addition to the world he knew. When he was 16, he ran away from home to become a monk at Eihei-ji, one of the two head temples of the Sōtō Zen sect. A monk at the entrance tried to turn him away but Sawaki stated he would rather die than return home. At Eihei-ji, Sawaki learned that not all monks were good, having a confrontation with a monk who mistreated him. Eihei-ji is also where Sawaki was first introduced to zazen.
Chronological Milestones & Life Events
Notable Quotes by Kōdō Sawaki
“Discarding one’s body beneath the military flag is true selflessness. It is in doing this that you immediately become faithful retainers of the emperor and perfect soldiers.”
Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Kōdō Sawaki
True or False: “Kōdō Sawaki's early realization of emptiness was triggered by witnessing a death at a brothel, not his parents' passing.”
Answer (TRUE ⭕): The text states that viewing the aftermath of a neighbor dying at a brothel created an intense feeling of emptiness in him, surpassing the impact of his parents' deaths.
Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines
- A. Wyatt Tilby — Contemporary (Born in 1880) (1880): British author, journalist, and traveler known for his writings on history and philosophy.
- Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani — Contemporary (Born in 1880) (1880): Bangladeshi statesman and founder of the Awami League, known for advocating for the poor.
- Alexander Blok — Contemporary (Born in 1880) (1880): A leading lyrical poet of the Russian Silver Age, known for Symbolist verse.
- Aamir Khan — Contemporary (Born in 1965) (1965): Iconic Indian actor and filmmaker, known as "Mr. Perfectionist" in Hindi cinema.
- Aaron Kwok — Contemporary (Born in 1965) (1965): Iconic Hong Kong performer, celebrated singer, dancer, and actor.
- Abdullah Al-Salim Al-Sabah — Contemporary (Died in 1965) (1965): Founder of modern Kuwait, he oversaw its transition to an independent state.
- Alice Bailey — Shared historical date (06-16 · Born) (1880): American esoteric writer known for neo-theosophical works and pioneering New Age concepts.
- Andrea M. Ghez — Shared historical date (06-16 · Born) (1965): Pioneering astrophysicist known for studying the Milky Way's central black hole.
- Alicia Alonso — Shared historical date (12-21 · Born) (1920): Legendary Cuban prima ballerina assoluta and choreographer.
- András Schiff — Shared historical date (12-21 · Born) (1953): Esteemed Hungarian and British classical pianist and conductor.
- 1880 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1880
- June 16 (06-16) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on June 16
- 1965 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1965
- December 21 (12-21) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on December 21
Frequently Asked Questions about Kōdō Sawaki
Who was Kōdō Sawaki and what are their primary contributions?
Prominent 20th-century Japanese Sōtō Zen teacher known for popularizing meditation. Origins & Early Life: Kodo Sawaki (沢木 興道, Sawaki Kōdō; June 16, 1880 – December 21, 1965) was a prominent Japanese Sōtō Zen teacher of the 20th century. He is considered to be one of the most significant Zen priests of his time for bringing Zen practice, in particular meditation, into the lives of laypeople and popularizing the ancient tradition of sewing the kesa. Sawaki was born in Tsu, Mie on June 16, 1880. He was the sixth child but born into a happy and wealthy home. Both his parents died when he was young, his mother when he was four and his father three years later.
When was Kōdō Sawaki born and during which historical era did they live?
Kōdō Sawaki was born on 1880-06-16 and passed away on 1965-12-21. For complete historical world events during this era, explore the 1880 Chrono-Archive.
Where can I read more verified chronological archives on Kōdō Sawaki?
Explore verified primary sources, interactive timelines, and contemporary figures in the 2Day Chrono-Wiki encyclopedia or review the original entry on Wikipedia.
Source: Wikipedia