Buddhism and socialism in the philosophy of Seno’o Giro (1890–1961)

Abstract

This article discusses the philosophical views of Seno Giro (1890–1961), the founder of the movement “Shinko Bukkyo Seinen Domei” (“Youth League of the Revival of Bud­dhism”). The study shows that Seno Giro sought to develop his own original philosophy, combining a complex of Buddhist doctrines and the main aspects of socialism, which was popular in the liberal Japanese circles at that time. The paper analyzes the main trends of his movement, which was focused on the reformation of traditional Buddhist institu­tions and the creation of a Buddhism that would be more suitable for the requirements of the modern era. The evolution of Seno Giro’s views is traced from a simple adherence to the dogmas of Nitirenism to the idea that Buddhism, if it were reorganized on the basis of the ideas of Western philosophy, could be a solution to the social problems caused by capitalism. Thus, it is concluded that Seno Giro not only called for a complete reformation of Japanese Buddhism (as many Japanese intellectuals of that time did), but also sought its practical implementation, considering the synthesis of socialism and Buddhism as the most appropriate option. According to Seno Giro, the study of the political philosophy of socialism would help to awaken Buddhists from their “dogmatic sleep”, and Buddhism, in turn, would complement socialist atheism and materialism with humanistic ethics, due to the fact that it lacks the monotheism and creationism inherent in Christianity.