The Unity of Shobogenzo

The Unity of Shobogenzo

 

Among the variety of controversies concerning the diversity of fascicles constituting Shobogenzo is a tendency to misunderstand and misrepresent individual fascicles as independent writings rather than parts of a unified work. Despite the near universal recognition of Shobogenzo as a unified work (e.g. a masterpiece, the work, etc.), accounts and commentaries often discuss particular fascicles of Shobogenzo in terms appropriate only for a distinct text, or as one among a disparate collection of writings.

 

While there are questions as to which particular fascicles legitimately belong to Shobogenzo, there is no question about the unity of Shobogenzo itself. Indeed, the very question as to which fascicles belong, by definition, presupposes the unity of Shobogenzo – if not for their place in that unity, the question as to which fascicles belong is obviously superfluous.