Dainichi Nōnin

views updated

Dainichi Nōnin or Jimbō Zenji (12th/13th cent.). Zen Buddhist Japanese master of the Rinzai school. Initially introduced to Tendai teaching, he reached enlightenment without formal instruction from a master, and founded the Sambō-ji (monastery). He is also credited (e.g. by Nichiren) with the founding of the Daruma-school. Daruma teaching pushed the doctrine of all appearance being empty of attributes, and all therefore equally bearing the buddha-nature, to a logical extreme. Although Daruma-shu was repudiated by Jap. Zen, Nōnin was himself acknowledged as a profound master.