Editors’ introduction: Meiji Zen

A MAJOR GAP EXISTS in the scholarly literature on Zen Buddhism. Although studies of leading medieval Zen figures and institutions are plentiful and certain aspects of contemporary Zen in Japan have received attention, scholarship concerning developments in the various Zen schools for the period from the sixteenth until the latter half of the twentieth century remains scarce. Given the general characterization of Buddhism during this period as corrupt and doctrinally insignificant, it is not surprising that Buddhist scholars would turn their attention elsewhere. Particularly in Japan the study of modern Buddhism has not been regarded as the legitimate province of Buddhist studies (Bukky6gaku 4LA ). Apart from a handful of Buddhist scholars, for example, IKEDA Eishun (1976; 1994), KASHIWAHARA Yfisen (1990), TAMAMURO Fumio (1987), and YOSHIDA Kyfiichi (1996; 1998), those few individuals who have endeavored in this domain most often