The Golden Age of Zen

by John C. H. Wu

"The Golden Age of Zen"  examines the history of the great Chinese Zen Masters of the 7th through to the 10th century. It portrays the Masters in their 'Five Houses' and enables the reader to situate their teachings and thus enjoy them in their context.

Here is a book that will do much to clarify the still very confused Western idea of Zen Buddhism. 

About the Author

Wu Ching-hsiung (1899-1986), known as John C. H. Wu was born in China, and was an author, translator, lawyer, juristic philosopher, educator, and prominent Catholic layman. He was president of the Special High Court at Shanghai; vice-chairman of the Legislative Yuan's constitution drafting committee; founder of the T'ien Hsia Monthly; translator of the Psalms and the New Testament; and the Chinese minister to the Holy See (1947-48).

After studying in the U.S. and Europe, he returned to China in 1924, where he became a professor of law at his alma mater in Shanghai. Within three years he was appointed principal of the School of Law. A chance reading of the autobiography of St. Theresa of Lisieux in 1937 sparked Wu's conversion to Roman Catholicism. His translations of both the Psalms and the New Testament into Chinese were received with wide acclaim. Chiang Kai-shek named Wu as the Chinese minister to the Holy See, and Wu presented his credentials to Pope Pius XII in February 1947.

In 1949, he moved to the U.S. and held posts at both the University of Hawaii and Seton Hall University. John C. W. Wu wrote and translated numerous books and articles on many subjects including religion, philosophy, and law.

Reviews:

"A rich harvest of the sayings and training methods of the great Chinese Zen masters. Highly recommended." - Roshi Philip Kapleau- author of "The Three Pillars of Zen"

"A good place to make the acquaintance of what can be called the very quintessence of Buddhist wisdom." - Thomas Merton, in the introduction