The Shoguns of the Ashi-kaga period (1338-1573) were not less devoted to the faith than the Emperors who succeeded the Emperor Go-dai-go.  And even Taka-uji (1338-1357), the notorious founder of the Shogunate, built a monastery and invited So-seki,[FN#93] better known as Mu-So-Koku-Shi, who was respected as the tutor by the three successive Emperors after Go-dai-go.  Taka-uji’s example was followed by all succeeding Shoguns, and Shogun’s example was followed by the feudal lords and their vassals.  This resulted in the propagation of Zen throughout the country.  We can easily imagine how Zen was prosperous in these days from the splendid monasteries[FN#94] built at this period, such as the Golden Hall Temple and the Silver Hall Temple that still adorn the fair city of Kyo-to.

[FN#93] So-seki (1276-1351) was perhaps the greatest Zen master of the period.  Of numerous monasteries built for him, E-rin-ji, in the province of Kae, and Ten-ryu-ji, the head temple of a sub-sect of the Rin Zai under the same name, are of importance.  Out of over seventy eminent disciples of his, Gi-do (1365-1388), the author of Ku-ge-shu; Shun-oku (1331-1338), the founder of the monastery of So-koku-ji, the head temple of a sub-sect of the Rin Zai under the same name; and Zek-kai (1337-1405), author of Sho-ken-shu, are best known.

[FN#94] Myo-shin-ji was built in 1337 by the Emperor Hana-zono; Ten-ryu-ji was erected by Taka-uji, the first Shogun of the period, in 1344; So-koku-ji by Yosh-imitsu, the third Shogun, in 1385; Kin-Kaku-ji, or Golden Hall Temple, by the same Shogun, in 1397; Gin-kaku-ji, or Silver Hall Temple, by Yoshi-masa, the eighth Shogun, in 1480.

11.  Zen in the Dark Age.

The latter half of the Ashikaga period was the age of arms and bloodshed.  Every day the sun shone on the glittering armour of marching soldiers.  Every wind sighed over the lifeless remains of the brave.  Everywhere the din of battle resounded.  Out of these fighting feudal lords stood two champions.  Each of them distinguished himself as a veteran soldier and tactician.  Each of them was known as an experienced practiser of Zen.  One was Haru-nobu[FN#95] (Take-da, died in 1573), better known by his Buddhist name, Shin-gen.  The other was Teru-tora[FN#96] (Uye-sugi, died in 1578), better known by his Buddhist name, Ken-shin.  The character of Shin-gen can be imagined from the fact that he never built any castle or citadel or fortress to guard himself against his enemy, but relied on his faithful vassals and people; while that of Ken-shin, from the fact that he provided his enemy, Shin-gen, with salt when the latter suffered from want of it, owing to the cowardly stratagem of a rival lord.  The heroic battles waged by these two great generals against each other are the flowers of the Japanese war-history.  Tradition has it that when Shin-gen’s army was put to rout by the furious attacks of Ken-shin’s troops, and a single warrior mounted on a huge charger