- 1. Who is considered the founder of Zen Buddhism?
A) Lao Tzu
B) Gautama Buddha
C) Bodhidharma
D) Confucius
- 2. What is the practice of sitting meditation in Zen called?
A) Koan
B) Satori
C) Zazen
D) Nirvana
- 3. What is the Zen term for a sudden moment of enlightenment?
A) Satori
B) Sangha
C) Dharma
D) Kensho
- 4. What poetic form of expression is often used in Zen teaching to convey deeper truths?
A) Epic
B) Sonnet
C) Haiku
D) Limerick
- 5. Who wrote the classic book 'Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind'?
A) Shunryu Suzuki
B) D.T. Suzuki
C) Thich Nhat Hanh
D) Alan Watts
- 6. What is the traditional Zen seat for meditation called?
A) Kinhin
B) Jikijitsu
C) Zafu
D) Roshi
- 7. Which Zen sect is known for its emphasis on koan practice?
A) Obaku
B) Rinzai
C) Kwan Um
D) Soto
- 8. What is the term for the practice of eating in silence and with mindfulness in Zen?
A) Rohatsu
B) Teisho
C) Oryoki
D) Daisan
- 9. What is the purpose of the Zen tradition of 'Dharma combat'?
A) To debate doctrinal differences
B) To promote physical strength
C) To attain a state of inner peace
D) To test a student's understanding and awaken insight
- 10. What is the origin of the word 'Zen'?
A) The Japanese pronunciation of the Middle Chinese word 禪 (chán), derived from the Sanskrit word dhyāna.
B) A term derived from the Chinese word for meditation.
C) A name given to a school of thought by Bodhidharma.
D) A translation of a Buddhist scripture.
- 11. What is the meaning of 'zazen' in Zen practice?
A) Loving-kindness meditation.
B) Sitting meditation.
C) Walking meditation.
D) Chanting meditation.
- 12. What does the term 'tracing back the radiance' refer to in Zen?
A) A practice of visualizing a sun disk.
B) A method of mindfulness of the impurities of the body.
C) Seeing the inherent radiant source of the mind itself, the 'numinous awareness' or Buddha-nature.
D) A technique for contemplating the twelve links of pratītyasamutpāda.
- 13. Which Zen text criticizes the practice of sitting samādhi?
A) The Diamond Sutra.
B) The Platform Sutra.
C) The Lotus Sutra.
D) The Heart Sutra.
- 14. Which Zen master is known for the phrase 'if you meet a Buddha, kill the Buddha'?
A) Bodhidharma.
B) Dōgen.
C) The master in the Record of Linji.
D) Huineng.
- 15. Which Zen school emphasizes effortlessness and ordinary daily activities?
A) The school represented by the Record of Linji.
B) The Sōtō school.
C) The Rinzai school.
D) The Tiantai school.
- 16. Which Zen text is associated with the East Mountain School's sudden approach?
A) The method named 'maintaining the one without wavering' (shǒu yī bù yí).
B) The Diamond Sutra.
C) The Heart Sutra.
D) The Lotus Sutra.
- 17. Which Zen master described 'turning one's light around' as seeing the radiance of the sun's rays and following it back to the sun itself?
A) Bodhidharma.
B) Yunmen.
C) Huineng.
D) The Japanese Zen master Dōgen.
- 18. Who is associated with the development of the kōan introspection method in the Linji school?
A) Kōshō Uchiyama.
B) Dahui.
C) Shunryū Suzuki.
D) Hongzhi Zhengjue.
- 19. Which Zen master critiqued the use of kōans as 'old wastepaper'?
A) Dōgen.
B) Bankei.
C) Shunryū Suzuki.
D) Kōshō Uchiyama.
- 20. What is the term for the state of awareness in shikantaza where the mind is 'nowhere and everywhere'?
A) Subject-object duality.
B) Goal seeking.
C) Conceptual thinking.
D) Hiriryō (non-thinking).
- 21. Which Zen teacher is known for teaching long and deep exhalations and inhalations as preparation for breath meditation?
A) Dainin Katagiri Roshi.
B) Shunryū Suzuki.
C) Kōshō Uchiyama.
D) Omori Sogen.
- 22. What is the term for the practice of 'just sitting' in Sōtō Zen?
A) Huatou.
B) Shikantaza.
C) Kōan contemplation.
D) Silent illumination.
- 23. What is the term for the state of 'seeing one's true nature' in kōan practice?
A) Samadhi.
B) Kensho.
C) Satori.
D) Nirvana.
- 24. What is the term for the practice of 'observing the phrase' in Chinese Chan?
A) Silent illumination.
B) Mindfulness of breathing.
C) Shikantaza.
D) Kanhua chan.
- 25. Which Zen master critiqued the use of kōans during the Song era?
A) Foyan Qingyuan.
B) Kōshō Uchiyama.
C) Shunryū Suzuki.
D) Dōgen.
- 26. What is the term for the practice of 'just sitting' in Chinese Chan?
A) Mokushō.
B) Shikantaza.
C) Kanhua chan.
D) Huatou.
- 27. Which early Chan master taught to 'bind the mind to one Buddha and exclusively invoke his name'?
A) Shenxiu.
B) Daoxin.
C) Hongren.
D) Faru.
- 28. Which historical text is considered the most influential Chan monastic code in East Asia?
A) Lidai fabao ji.
B) Chanyuan qinggui.
C) Guangming lu.
D) Zutang ji.
- 29. Who among the following continued the tradition of Nianfo Chan during the late Ming period?
A) Hongren.
B) Yunqi Zhuhong.
C) Daoxin.
D) Shenxiu.
- 30. What view did figures like Yongming Yanshou advocate regarding the Pure Land?
A) Pure Land as a metaphor.
B) Pure Land as a distant realm.
C) Physical Pure Land.
D) Mind-only Pure Land.
- 31. Which Japanese school of Zen adapted Nianfo into the 'nembutsu kōan'?
A) Ōbaku.
B) Rinzai.
C) Sōtō.
D) Kōdō.
- 32. During which period were both Shaka nembutsu and Amida nembutsu promoted by Soto school priests?
A) Heian period.
B) Meiji period.
C) Edo period.
D) Kamakura period.
- 33. In which Vietnamese school is Nianfo Chan widely practiced?
A) Confucianism.
B) Mahayana Buddhism.
C) Taoism.
D) Thien.
- 34. What is the Japanese term for 'nianfo'?
A) Zazen.
B) Koan.
C) Nembutsu.
D) Kinhin.
- 35. Which text shows that the practice of nianfo was widespread in the early Chan generation?
A) Mojing.
B) Dafangguang Fo huayan jing.
C) Lunyu.
D) Chuan fabao qi.
- 36. Which Chan master's work titled 'Guanxin lun' teaches the practice of nianfo?
A) Guifeng Zongmi.
B) Daoxin.
C) Shenxiu.
D) Fazang.
- 37. Which form of Buddhism is Zen a part of?
A) Mahayana Buddhism
B) Hinayana Buddhism
C) Vajrayana Buddhism
D) Theravada Buddhism
- 38. What is the term for the 'transcendent virtues' or 'perfections' in Zen?
A) Nirvana
B) Sangha
C) Pāramitā
D) Dharma
- 39. What is the Japanese term for the initiation ritual of receiving the precepts?
A) Jukai
B) Zazen
C) Sesshin
D) Samu
- 40. What is the practice of fasting during uposatha days called in Chinese?
A) Samu
B) Jukai
C) Sesshin
D) Zhairi
- 41. What is the term for the building or hall used for meditation in a Zen monastery?
A) Samu hall
B) Zendō
C) Garage
D) Buddha hall
- 42. Which bodhisattva is commonly associated with Zen rituals?
A) Samantabhadra
B) Avalokiteśvara
C) Vajrapani
D) Maitreya
- 43. What is the ultimate goal in Zen?
A) Awakening
B) Attaining enlightenment through rituals
C) Studying Buddhist texts
D) Following scriptures
- 44. Which Zen master is associated with the 'correspondence of the teachings and Zen'?
A) Yongming Yanshou
B) Hakuin Ekaku
C) Eihei Dogen
D) Shunryu Suzuki
- 45. Which Zen monastic code emphasizes self-sufficiency?
A) Vinaya
B) Pure Standards for the Zen Community
C) East Asian Buddhist monasticism
D) Avatamsaka sutra
- 46. Which deity is associated with rites in Japanese Zen?
A) Bodhisattva
B) Buddha
C) Daoist deity
D) Kami
- 47. Which ritual is practiced for those who have had a miscarriage or stillbirth in Japanese Zen?
A) Hanamatsuri
B) Obon
C) Mizuko kuyō
D) Higan
- 48. Which Korean Seon practice is similar to the active physical training in Zen?
A) Seonji
B) Seonrye
C) Seonbul
D) Sunmudo
- 49. What term is used for Zen paintings in Japanese?
A) Hosshinshū
B) suizen
C) sumi-e
D) zenga
- 50. What is the name of the collection written by Chōmei that discusses devotion to art?
A) Zenga
B) Suizen
C) Sumi-e
D) Hosshinshū
- 51. Which Chan monk was a practitioner of Shingon and received esoteric initiation under Kisan Biku?
A) Myōan Eisai
B) Enni Ben'en
C) Menzan Zuihō
D) Keizan Jōkin
- 52. Which Zen sect practiced 'blowing zen' using the shakuhachi bamboo flute?
A) Chan sect
B) Rinzai sect
C) Soto sect
D) Fuke sect
- 53. Which Chan master was a student of the Zhenyan (Mantra) school?
A) Keizan Jōkin
B) Jingxian
C) Hyujeong
D) Menzan Zuihō
- 54. Which Zen master is known for creating a large corpus of sumi-e and Japanese calligraphy?
A) Chōmei
B) Hakuin
C) Muqi Fachang
D) Guanxiu
- 55. What metaphor did Hongzhou use to describe the true mind?
A) A solid rock
B) A flowing river
C) A burning flame
D) A clear mirror
- 56. What is the significance of the 'finger' in Zen practice?
A) It represents the teachings, not the ultimate goal
B) It represents awakening
C) It represents reality
D) It represents ignorance
- 57. Which Zen master composed the Jewelled Repentance of the Emperor of Liang?
A) Rinzai
B) Baozhi
C) Hakuin
D) Dogen
- 58. What is the Japanese term for intensive group meditation practice?
A) Samu
B) Zazen
C) Oryoki
D) Sesshin
- 59. What is the term for the short periods of work performed with mindfulness in Zen practice?
A) Samu
B) Sesshin
C) Zazen
D) Oryoki
- 60. What is the Japanese term for a sutra book in Zen Buddhism?
A) Sutra-shu
B) Kyoji
C) Kyohon
D) Sutrasen
- 61. What is the term for the building used for ritual purposes in a Zen monastery?
A) Buddha hall
B) Zendō
C) Samu hall
D) Garage
- 62. What is the name of the extended absolute fast undertaken by master Hsuan Hua?
A) 35-day fast
B) 7-day fast
C) 10-day fast
D) 50-day fast
- 63. What is the term for the initiation ritual of receiving the precepts in Korean?
A) Sesshin
B) Sugye
C) Zazen
D) Samu
- 64. What is the practice called that involves focusing the mind and vital energy on the tanden?
A) Shikantaza
B) Kinhin
C) Naikan
D) Zazen
- 65. Which art form was used by Zen practitioners to communicate spiritual understanding?
A) weaving
B) sculpture
C) pottery
D) calligraphy
- 66. Which sutra is included in the modern compilation known as the Shushogi?
A) The Lotus Sutra
B) The Diamond Sutra
C) Dogen's treatise on repentance
D) The Heart Sutra
- 67. What is the term for the formal and ceremonial taking of refuge in the three jewels?
A) Sesshin
B) Taking refuge
C) Samu
D) Zazen
- 68. Which Zen master is known for promoting the unity of teachings and Zen?
A) Jinul
B) Shunryu Suzuki
C) Hakuin Ekaku
D) Eihei Dogen
- 69. Which Korean Seon master was known to be an esoteric adept?
A) Keizan Jōkin
B) Enni Ben'en
C) Hyujeong
D) Menzan Zuihō
- 70. Which of the following is not one of the six widely used bodhisattva virtues?
A) Nirvana
B) Generosity
C) Moral training
D) Wisdom
- 71. What is the significance of the 'finger' in the Zen metaphor?
A) It represents reality
B) It represents ignorance
C) It represents awakening
D) It represents the teachings
- 72. What is the term for the building or hall for meditation in Chinese?
A) Garage
B) Buddha hall
C) Samu hall
D) Chantáng
- 73. What is the term for the daily schedule that includes work, meditation, rituals, and meals in a Zen monastery?
A) Work schedule
B) Meditation schedule
C) Daily schedule
D) Ritual schedule
- 74. Which mantra is used in the Kwan Um school of Zen during sitting meditation?
A) Mantra of Light
B) Heart Sutra Mantra
C) Śūraṅgama Mantra
D) Guanyin Mantra (Kwanseum Bosal)
- 75. What is the ultimate reality in Zen?
A) Is limited to scriptures
B) Transcends all concepts
C) Is achieved through rituals
D) Is defined by teachings
- 76. Which ritual in Japan includes esoteric elements and is associated with the ghost festival?
A) Yujia Yankou
B) Chaosong
C) Ambrosia Gate (甘露門 kanro mon)
D) Shuilu Fahui
- 77. Which Zen tradition focuses on meditation practice?
A) Soto
B) Theravada
C) Rinzai
D) Linji
- 78. What is the Japanese term for ritual prostrations in Zen?
A) Raihai
B) Zazen
C) Kinhai
D) Kinhin
- 79. What is the Japanese term for a home altar where offerings are made?
A) Butsudan
B) Kamidana
C) Shōrō
D) Honden
- 80. Which Chan monk painter used brush painting and calligraphy to communicate spiritual understanding?
A) Muqi Fachang
B) Hakuin
C) Chōmei
D) Guanxiu
- 81. What metaphor is used in Zen to describe doctrinal teachings?
A) The mountain standing
B) The tree in the forest
C) The river flowing
D) The finger pointing at the moon
- 82. What is the ultimate principle in Zen from which all phenomena arise?
A) Dharma
B) Li
C) Samsara
D) Karma
- 83. Which influential Soto monk was a major promoter of esoteric methods and was influenced by Shingon and Shugendo?
A) Eisai
B) Keizan Jōkin
C) Enni Ben'en
D) Menzan Zuihō
- 84. Which Chan monk painter's name is Muqi Fachang?
A) Not applicable
B) Unknown
C) True
D) False
- 85. Which Zen master promoted the 'correspondence of the teachings and Zen'?
A) Hakuin
B) Shunryu Suzuki
C) Guifeng Zongmi
D) Dogen
- 86. Which monastery is credited with developing the first institutionalized form of gōngfu?
A) Takuan Monastery
B) Wudang Monastery
C) Kongtong Monastery
D) Shaolin Monastery
- 87. What is the Japanese term for sutra recitation ceremonies?
A) Nenju
B) Raihai
C) Zazen
D) Kinhin
- 88. Which concept is emphasized by Linji- and Rinzai-focused traditions?
A) Scriptural study
B) Special transmission outside scriptures
C) Ritual practice
D) Monastic discipline
- 89. Which mantra is commonly chanted by monastics as part of the morning and evening liturgy in temples?
A) Guanyin Mantra
B) Heart Sutra Mantra
C) Śūraṅgama Mantra
D) Mantra of Light
- 90. Which esoteric practice involves maṇḍala offerings and deity yoga?
A) Musong
B) Chaosong
C) Shuilu Fahui ceremony
D) Ambrosia Gate
- 91. Who was the modern Chan master that discussed the adoption of internal cultivation exercises from the Shaolin tradition?
A) Hakuin
B) Takuan Sōhō
C) Sheng Yen
D) Wang Zuyuan
- 92. During which dynasty did Korean Zen (Seon) become highly inclusive and ecumenical, incorporating Esoteric Buddhist practices?
A) Yuan Dynasty
B) Tang Dynasty
C) Joseon Dynasty
D) Han Dynasty
- 93. What is the term used today for 'martial chan'?
A) Yangsheng
B) Neigong
C) Wuchan
D) Qigong
- 94. What percentage of Sōtō laypeople visit their temple only for funerals?
A) 60 percent
B) 80 percent
C) 70 percent
D) 50 percent
- 95. Which Zen school states that 80 percent of its laypeople visit the temple only for funerals?
A) Sōtō
B) Rinzai
C) Sōtōshū
D) Kōdō
- 96. What is the role of the Prajñaparamita literature in Zen?
A) Is irrelevant to Zen
B) Influences doctrinal teaching
C) Is opposed by Zen
D) Is only partially related to Zen
- 97. What is the Sanskrit term for Buddha-nature?
A) Sangha
B) Bodhidharma
C) Dharmakaya
D) Buddhadhātu
- 98. What is the term for the periods of rest between sitting meditation in Zen?
A) Sesshin
B) Zazen
C) Rest breaks
D) Samu
- 99. Which of the following is not a bodhisattva vow in Zen?
A) Bodhisattva vows
B) Five precepts
C) Sixteen bodhisattva precepts
D) Ten essential precepts
- 100. What is the term for the 'main object of veneration' in a Zen monastery?
A) Sesshin
B) Honzon
C) Samu
D) Oryoki
|