[FN#76] (1) Pao King San Mei (Ho-kyo-san-mai, ’Precious Mirror Samadhi’), a metrical exposition of Zen, by Tung Shan (To-zan, 806-869), one of the founders of the So To school. (2) Wu Wei Hien Hueh (Go-i-ken-ketsu.  ’Explanation of the Five Categories’), by Tung Shan and his disciple Tsao Shan (So-zan).  This book shows us how Zen was systematically taught by the authors. (3) Pih Yen Tsih (Heki-gan-shu, ’A Collection and Critical Treatment of Dialogues’), by Yuen Wu.

3.  The Characteristics of Do-gen, the Founder of the Japanese So To Sect.

In the meantime seekers after a new truth gradually began to knock at his door, and his hermitage was turned into a monastery, now known as the Temple of Ko-sho-ji.[FN#77] It was at this time that many Buddhist scholars and men of quality gathered about him but the more popular he became the more disgusting the place became to him.  His hearty desire was to live in a solitude among mountains, far distant from human abodes, where none but falling waters and singing birds could disturb his delightful meditation.  Therefore he gladly accepted the invitation of a feudal lord, and went to the province of Echi-zen, where his ideal monastery was built, now known as Ei-hei-ji.[FN#78]

[FN#77] It was in this monastery (built in 1236) that Zen was first taught as an independent sect, and that the Meditation Hall was first opened in Japan.  Do-gen lived in the monastery for eleven years, and wrote some of the important books.  Za-zen-gi (’The Method of Practising the Cross-legged Meditation’) was written soon after his return from China, and Ben-do-wa and other essays followed, which are included in his great work, entitled Sho-bo-gen-zo) (’The Eye and Treasury of the Right Law’).

[FN#78] The monastery was built in 1244 by Yoshi-shige (Hatano), the feudal lord who invited Do-gen.  He lived in Ei-hei-ji until his death, which took place in 1253.  It is still flourishing as the head temple of the So To Sect.

In 1247, being requested by Toki-yori, the Regent General (1247-1263), he came down to Kama-kura, where he stayed half a year and went back to Ei-hei-ji.  After some time Toki-yori, to show his gratitude for the master, drew up a certificate granting a large tract of land as the property of Ei-hei-ji, and handed it over to Gen-myo, a disciple of Do-gen.  The carrier of the certificate was so pleased with the donation that he displayed it to all his brethren and produced it before the master, who severely reproached him saying:  “O, shame on thee, wretch!  Thou art -defiled by the desire of worldly riches even to thy inmost soul, just as noodle is stained with oil.  Thou canst not be purified from it to all eternity.  I am afraid thou wilt bring shame on the Right Law.”  On the spot Gen-myo was deprived of his holy robe and excommunicated.  Furthermore, the master ordered the ‘polluted’ seat in the Meditation Hall, where Gen-myo was wont to sit, to be removed, and the ‘polluted’ earth under the seat to be dug out to the depth of seven feet.