Zen Koans and Ecological Consciousness: Buddhist and Zen Thought in the Works of Peter Matthiessen
Yanhua Cai
Journal of Humanities Arts and Social Science April 28, 2025 DOI: 10.26855/jhass.2025.04.005 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Buddhism |
| Key points | Argues that Zen Buddhism offers Matthiessen a deeper, more spiritual approach to environmental issues, and that his use of koans and themes of presence and impermanence create a distinct voice in modern environmental literature, contributing to a broader East-West literary conversation. |
Abstract
In 20th-century American literature, the growing interest in Eastern thought reflected a deeper search for new ways of understanding the world, especially as people began to question humanity’s role in the natural environment. Peter Matthiessen was a key figure in this turn. His writing brings together a deep concern for the natural world with ideas from Buddhism and Zen, giving his work a distinct voice in modern environmental literature. This paper explores how Matthiessen draws on Buddhist and Chinese Zen traditions, both in what he writes about and how he writes. It focuses in particular on his use of koans—brief, often puzzling questions meant to provoke reflection and insight. Through his major works, the readers see how he engages with ideas like presence, impermanence, and moving beyond either-or thinking. His quiet, thoughtful style mirrors the Zen values at the heart of his message. The paper also argues that Zen gives Matthiessen a deeper, more spiritual way to think about environmental issues. In this sense, his writing becomes part of a larger conversation about East-West exchange, showing how Zen has helped shape not just his personal views but also a broader literary response to today’s environmental crisis.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on buddhism, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mental balance and well-being: Building bridges between Buddhism and Western psychology. | 2006 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Buddhist Modernism and the Rhetoric of Meditative Experience | 1995 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Buddhist and Psychological Perspectives on Emotions and Well-Being | 2005 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Too Early to Tell: The Potential Impact and Challenges—Ethical and Otherwise—Inherent in the Mainstreaming of Dharma in an Increasingly Dystopian World | 2017 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| From self to nonself: The Nonself Theory | 2016 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |