Hey everyone, does anyone have any recommendations for serious scholarly books or papers on the following: I’m interested in the relationship between Japan’s warrior culture (e.g., the samurai but more broadly) and its Buddhism. For example, in my superficial understanding, Buddhism (even Zen) is non-violent is it not? So I’m wondering to what extent the warrior class participated in Buddhism and, if so, how they reconciled that with their calling and martial activity? Like, how was the warrior ethos not seen to be in total conflict with the Buddhist tradition?
Does any of this make sense? So I’d be interested in any texts on the spirituality of the warrior class in Japanese history, its relation to Buddhism and so on. Were there Buddhist sects that somehow reconciled participation in war with Buddhist practice?
The only other example that comes to mind are the Shaolin in China whom I believe are also Buddhist but again I know almost nothing about them either.
Thanks everyone and sorry for posing what may be a dumb question but I’d love any suggestions for understanding these issues!
by boxerpuncher2023