Brian Daizen Victoria

> LE ZEN EN GUERRE 1868-1945, de Brian Victoria. — Voici enfin publié en français la traduction attendue d'un ouvrage qui a bouleversé au cours des dernières années l'ensemble des communautés bouddhistes occidentales. [...] Un livre courageux et, on s'en doute, débattu à lire impérativement par tous ceux qui s'intéressent à l'histoire du bouddhisme extrême-oriental. Ainsi qu'à ses dérives. Éditions du Seuil, Paris, 2001, 363 pages
—Recension : Éric Rommeluère (novembre 2001) ; URL : http://www.zen-occidental.net/ndl/victoria1.html… (mais)

A compelling history of the contradictory, often militaristic, role of Zen Buddhism, this book meticulously documents the close and previously unknown support of a supposedly peaceful religion for Japanese militarism throughout World War II. Drawing on the writings and speeches of leading Zen masters and scholars, Brian Victoria shows that Zen served as a powerful foundation for the fanatical and suicidal spirit displayed by the imperial Japanese military. At the same time, the author recounts the dramatic and tragic stories of the handful of Buddhist organizations and individuals that dared to oppose Japan's march to war. He follows this history up through recent apologies by several Zen sects for their support of the war and the way support for militarism was transformed into 'corporate Zen' in postwar Japan. The second edition includes a substantive new chapter on the roots of Zen militarism and an epilogue that explores the potentially volatile mix of religion and war. With the increasing interest in Buddhism in the West, this book is as timely as it is certain to be controversial.… (mais)