Date: September 10, 2025
Time: 18:00–19:30
Venue: IB1047
Speaker: Paul S. Atkins, Professor of Japanese, Department of Asian Languages and Literature, University of Washington, Seattle.
Title: A Japanese Zen Monk in Ming China
The life and works of Zekkai Chūshin 絶海中津 (1336–1405), a Japanese Rinzai Zen monk and poet, offer a unique perspective on the intellectual and spiritual exchanges that shaped East Asia in the late fourteenth century. As one of the few Japanese monks to have lived and studied in China during the formative years of the Ming dynasty, Zekkai’s writings and experiences reflect a deep engagement with Chinese literary and religious traditions.
This talk explores Zekkai’s eight-year residence in Chinese temples in Hangzhou and Nanjing, his poetic exchanges with Chinese monks and the Hongwu Emperor (1328-98, reigned 1368-98), and his role in the resumption of diplomatic relations between China and Japan in the early fifteenth century. Through close readings of his kanshi (poetry in literary Chinese), we will examine how Zekkai navigated questions of language, identity, and cultural belonging. Particular attention will be given to the role of poetry as a shared medium of expression and connection across national and linguistic boundaries.
By focusing on Zekkai’s perspective as a Japanese monk immersed in Chinese culture, this presentation highlights the complexities of cross-cultural learning and the enduring significance of literary practice in the Zen tradition. It invites reflection on how historical figures like Zekkai can help us understand the dynamics of cultural, intellectual, economic, and diplomatic encounters in East Asia.
The event marks the first talk on China and Japan after World War II, sponsored by the Humanities Research Center.
Food and drinks will be provided.
