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Shin'ichi Hisamatsu | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1889-06-05)5 June 1889 Gifu Prefecture, Japan |
| Died | 27 February 1980(1980-02-27) (aged 90) |
| Education | |
| Academic advisor | Kitaro Nishida |
| Philosophical work | |
| Era | 20th-century philosophy |
| Region | Japanese philosophy |
| School | |
| Main interests | Human suffering |
| The Kyoto School of Philosophy |
|---|
| at Kyoto University |
| Topics |
| Individuals |
| Historical background |
Shin'ichi Hisamatsu (久松 真一,Hisamatsu Shin'ichi; June 5, 1889 – February 27, 1980) was aphilosopher,Zen Buddhist scholar, andJapanesetea ceremony (sadō orchadō, 茶道, "the way of tea") master. He was a professor atKyoto University and received an honorary doctoral degree fromHarvard University.
Hisamatsu was born inGifu Prefecture, Japan. He entered Kyoto University in 1912 and studied philosophy withKitarō Nishida, one of the most prominent Japanese philosophers of his time and the author ofAn Inquiry into the Good. With Nishida's recommendation, Hisamatsu joined the Rinzai Zen monastery ofMyōshin-ji in Kyoto in 1915 and studied Zen Buddhism with Zen Master Ikegami Shōsan. After his monastic life at Myōshin-ji, he established his original philosophical view, which consists of both Eastern (mainly Zen Buddhist) and Western philosophy. Shortly after that, Hisamatsu received a doctorate degree from Kyoto University.
Between 1943 and 1949, he taught philosophy and religious studies at Kyoto University. While in Kyoto, Hisamatsu frequently discussed Zen Buddhism and philosophy withD. T. Suzuki atShunkō-in, where he lived. He also became the teacher ofMasao Abe. Abe became a leader ininterfaith dialogue. In 1958 Hisamatsu andCarl Jung held a brief conversation in Switzerland. "Specifically, their conversation centered on Jung's notion ofSelf and the Zen notion of 'No Mind', as well as their respective views ofhuman suffering and its alleviation." Each appeared to see, however, that then a genuine understanding in depth was premature. Even as they spoke through translators, the key words were susceptible to multiple interpretations.[1][2]
Hisamatsu was a founder of the FAS Society.[3] The FAS Society’s origin, Gakudō Dōjō, was established by students of Kyoto University under Hisamatsu's guidance. In 1960, Gakudō Dōjō was renamed FAS Society for their international activities. The purpose of this society is to spread the standpoint of the fundamental self-awakening of all mankind.
In theNetherlands andBelgium, the message of Hisamatsu is kept alive by Zen teacher Ton Lathouwers.
