Shogen Tanki Dai Gaku was established in 1955 as a Zen Dojo, an extension of the famous monastery Shogen-Ji, by Zen Master Kajiura Itsugai Roshi. Ever since, based on traditional Zen Buddhist teaching, students are being trained through daily study and practice as a means to grow as human beings. Though it is the smallest Junior College within Japan, we welcome students from a wide range of backgrounds, such as international students, students who have worked within society, senior students. Because the number of students is small, the personal attention given by teachers and staff is all the more relevant. After graduation, students either proceed to join a training monastery, engage in business, seek employment or serve as volunteers within society.
CURRICULUM (カリキュラム)
First year students are given an extended introduction into fundamental subjects related to Zen Buddhism and traditional Japanese culture. Second year students study specialized subjects and prepare for their graduation thesis through daily in-depth practice and research.
Itemized subjects include daily Zazen (Zen meditation), Samu (collective work assignment, maintenance of the school’s grounds, gardening, projects…) Bukkyo Volunteer (a social outreach program that ranges from serving minorities or the underprivileged, cleaning public places,etc…)
Also, there is an ongoing pilgrimage to the 88 sacred temples of Shikoku Island (Japan) in which students and staff take part every fall.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:(授業科目例)
Culture related programs(教養科目): Human ethics, religion and social welfare, science of health.
Specialized subjects(専門科目): Teisho (Zen Master’s lecture), Study of Records of Zen literature, Study of Buddha-Dharma, Zen Studies, History of Buddhism, History of the Zen School, Buddhism in practice, Zazen, Samu, Volunteering Buddha-Dharma, Study of Zen Scriptures (Sutras), Study of Japanese culture, Study of comparative ideologies.
Zen culture related programs(禅文化科目): Tea Ceremony, Calligraphy, Pottery and Ceramics, Zen and Vegetarian Cooking.
Foreign students’ programs(留学生科目): Japanese language, level I and II, Japanese State of Affairs, level I and II.
FOREIGN STUDENTS’ PROGRAM:(留学生の方へ)
Many foreign students have been coming to Shogen Tanki Dai Gaku in order to study and practice Zen Buddhism. Students who chose to focus on Japanese language, will also participate in daily practice, so students new to Japan and its culture will be supported by the life within the campus.