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A Timeline of Buddhism of East Asia
Including the important figures, books, events, videos, to Chan, Zen, Thien, Son, and Pureland traditions.
Reader Guides
Classic Works from the Dawn of Chan to the Present
Overview
Chan in China
- The Chan or Zen Patriarchs
- The Works of the Tang Dynasty in China (618-907)
- The Works of the Song Dynasty (960 - 1279)
- The Great Koan Collections
Zen in Korea
Zen in Japan
- Early Zen in Japan up to Dogen
- Dogen
- Rinzai Zen
- The Works of Hakuin
- Samurai and Zen
- Zen in Japan up to the Meiji Restoration (Coming Soon)
Additional Resources
- The Heart Sutra: A Reader’s Guide
- Zen in the Modern World (Coming Soon)
- Foundational Sutras and Texts of Zen (Coming Soon)
- Zen and Tea (Coming Soon)
Excerpt
The Art of Meditation in Motion
Still Running
The Art of Meditation in Motion
On a cool spring morning, a Zen teacher and his student are going for a walk. The last traces of snow have melted from the ground, and tiny buds are beginning to show on the tips of the cherry branches. Bundled in their robes, master and disciple walk easily as the day slowly grows warmer. Their walk leads...
Author Videos
Zen Master Shundo Aoyama
We paid a visit to Zen Master Shundo Aoyama at her nunnery in Nagoya, Japan, and she shared with us some words that capture the essence of her book Zen Seeds: 60 Essential Buddhist Teachings on Effort, Gratitude, and Happiness.
Zen Gardens of Awakening
Artist, scholar, peace activist, and Zen master Kazuaki Tanahashi discusses Gardens of Awakening: A Guide to the Aesthetics, History, and Spirituality of Kyoto's Zen Landscapes which is a collaboration between him and photographer Mitsue Nagase.
Author Events
Virtual Book Launch: Of Mud and Lotuses | Paula Arai | Institute of Buddhist Studies | Online
Wednesday, September 23 | 4:00pm – 5:30pm PT | Virtual on Zoom
IMS Bookclub With a Single Breath | Melvin McLeod | Online with Insight Meditation Society
October 13, 2026 | 7:00p.m. ET | Online
Of Mud and Lotuses | Paula Arai | In-Person at Boulder Bookstore
Tuesday, October 27 | 6:30pm MT | Boulder Bookstore, Boulder, CO
Online Courses
Heart of the Brush
Kazuaki Tanahashi is a renowned calligraphic artist and teacher who works with hundreds of students throughout the world each year. In this online workshop, you can study with him up close, as he guides you in exploring the wondrous world of brush calligraphy.
The Heart Sutra
One of the most beloved scriptures of Mahayana Buddhism, the Heart Sutra is chanted daily around the world in dozens of languages by millions of practitioners. For Zen Buddhists—and many others—the sutra expresses the nature of reality in ways both profound and paradoxical. In this online course, Kazuaki Tanahashi and Roshi Joan Halifax collaboratively explore the depths of the sutra’s teaching through talks, chanting, readings, and group discussions.
Articles on Zen Buddhism
A Map of Buddhism in Canada See Also: Map of Buddhism in the U.S. Here is an interactive map of the Buddhist centers and temples in the Canada. Click on the upper left arrow to display the brea...
A Map of Buddhism in the United States
A Map of Buddhism in the United States See Also: Map of Buddhism in Canada Here is an interactive map of the Buddhist centers and temples in the U.S. Click on the upper left arrow to display th...
Remembering David Chadwick (1945-2026)
Remembering David Chadwick (1945-2026) All of us at Shambhala Publications were deeply saddened to hear that David Reich Chadwick, the author and chronicler of Shunryu Suzuki Roshi and Zen in Ameri...
Remembering John Stevens (1947-2025)
It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of our beloved author John Stevens. John transitioned peacefully on July 21, 2025. John Stevens was a Zen priest and was a professor of Buddhis...
Zen E-Mail Subscriptions
Subscribe to specific email lists to have only the new books, audio, courses, and news you care about delivered right to you. You can also sign up for weekly emails with excerpts from Tibetan or Zen traditions or specific authors like Chogyam Trungpa and Pema Chodron.