Shin'ichi Hisamatsu facts for kids
Shin'ichi Hisamatsu (born June 5, 1889 – died February 27, 1980) was a very important Japanese thinker. He was a philosopher, which means he studied big ideas about life. He also studied and taught Zen Buddhism, a type of spiritual practice. Plus, he was a master of the Japanese tea ceremony, called sadō or chadō. He taught at Kyoto University and even got a special degree from Harvard University.
His Life and Studies
Shin'ichi Hisamatsu was born in Gifu Prefecture, Japan. In 1912, he started studying at Kyoto University. There, he learned philosophy from Kitarō Nishida. Nishida was one of the most famous Japanese philosophers of his time.
Learning Zen Buddhism
In 1915, Hisamatsu joined a Zen Buddhist temple. This was the Myōshin-ji monastery in Kyoto. He studied Zen Buddhism with a teacher named Ikegami Shōsan. After living and studying at the monastery, Hisamatsu developed his own unique ideas. These ideas combined Eastern (especially Zen Buddhist) and Western philosophy. Soon after, he earned a special degree from Kyoto University.
Teaching and Discussions
From 1943 to 1949, Hisamatsu taught at Kyoto University. He taught about philosophy and different religions. While in Kyoto, he often talked about Zen Buddhism and philosophy with D. T. Suzuki. Suzuki was another famous scholar of Zen. Hisamatsu also became the teacher of Masao Abe. Abe later became a leader in talking between different religions.
The FAS Society
Hisamatsu started a group called the FAS Society. It began as a study group for students at Kyoto University. Hisamatsu guided these students. In 1960, the group changed its name to the FAS Society. This was so they could share their ideas around the world. The main goal of the FAS Society is to help everyone understand their true selves.
