This article seeks to answer the question of whether the Zen school of Buddhism in Japan can be considered a terrorist faith. It begins with a brief historical introduction to three major terrorist incidents in 1930s Japan, all of which had a clear connection to the Zen school, including both the Rinzai and Sōtō Zen sects. In chronological order the three incidents are the Blood Oath Corps Incident of 1932; the Aizawa Incident of 1935, and the Young Officers’ Uprising of 1936 (J., Ni Ni Roku Jiken). Following the introduction, the Zen connection to each of these incidents is identified. The conclusion addresses the question of whether Zen, or at least Zen in prewar Japan, may accurately be identified as a terrorist faith.
目次
Introduction 104 Brief Introduction to the Three Incidents 105 The First Incident 105 The Second Incident 110 The Third Incident 114 The Zen Connection to Each Incident 116 Introduction 116 The Zen Connection to the Blood Oath Corps Incident 117 As a Temple Abbot 118 Time for Action 119 Zen Master Gempō Yamamoto Testifies 122 The Aftermath 125 The Zen Connection to the Aizawa Incident 126 Execution 128 The Zen Connection to the Young Officers' Uprising 129 The Role of Jikishin Dōjō 131 Conclusion 136
