Zen’s Western Reception and the Linguistic Barrier That Distorted Its Meaning

D.T. Suzuki’s Legacy and the Language Divide That Shaped Zen in the West

Zen (禅) became widely known in the West largely through the dedicated efforts of D.T. Suzuki (鈴木大拙, 1870–1966), who actively promoted it in his books and lectures both before and after World War II. However, early Western encounters with Zen were marked by significant misunderstandings and misguided criticism.

Determined to correct these misconceptions, …