A Dialogue Between Japanese Buddhism and Chinese Buddhism—When D. T. Suzuki Met Yinguang

In 1934, D. T. Suzuki visited China and met the renowned Pure Land Buddhist Master Yinguang, who was then retreating at Baoguo Temple in Suzhou. They conversed in-depth on the practices of the Pure Land and Chan/Zen traditions in China and Japan. This conversation deepened their respective understandings on the diverse developments of Pure Land and Chan in both countries. In this article, we introduces the historical context of Suzuki’s visit to China and his encounter with Yinguang, and then describes Suzuki’s impressions of Chinese Chan Buddhism during his visit. what is more, we compares and contrasts Yinguang’s and Suzuki’s views on Chan and Pure Land in China as well as their views on Pure Land and True Pure Land in Japan. Finally, we critically examines Suzuki’s view on the “Other-Power” (他力, 彼の力) and speculates on the significance of this dialogue in the history of the exchange of Buddhism between China and Japan.