Zen at War

In a challenge to romanticized visions of Zen, a Western Zen priest exposes the seamy underside of Buddhism as a state religion in Japan between the Meiji Restoration and the end of World War II. Included are quotations by well-known exponents of Zen, including the young D.T. Suzuki, glorifying emperor-worship and imperial conquest. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Zen at War is a wake-up call for all Buddhists. Brian Victoria has shown in a passionate and well documented way that Buddhism is not immune to the kind of distortions that have been used throughout human history by virtually all of the worlds religions to justify so-called holy wars.
John Daido Loori, Roshi, Abbot of Zen Mountain Monastery Author of The Heart of Being

Zen at War is a stunning contribution to our understanding of Japanese militarism and the broader issue of war responsibility as it continues to be addressed (and ignored) in contemporary Japan. Brian Victoria's great sensitivity to the perversion and betrayal of Buddhism's teachings about compassion and non-violence makes his indictment of the role played by Imperial Way Buddhists in promoting ultranationalism and aggression all the more strikingand all the more saddening.
Professor John W. Dower, Harvard University Author of War Without Mercy: Race and Power in the Pacific War

In this carefully documented study, Brian Victoria discloses the incredible intellectual dishonesty of Japanese Buddhists who perverted their religion to a jingoistic doctrine of support of the emperor and imperial expansion during the period 1868-1945. Good job! We must face this dark side of our heritage squarely.
Robert Aitken, Roshi, Honolulu Diamond Sangha Author of The Mind of Clover and The Practice of Perfection