Question

What type of Buddhism did samurai prefer and why?

Answer 1

Buddhist monks introduced Zen teachings to Japan in the 12th century and they quickly spread throughout the country. Samurai were one of the early adopters of this religious and philosophical tradition and used its guiding principles of finding inner peace and enlightenment to strengthen themselves both on and off the battlefield.
The primary reason samurai adopted Zen Buddhism was the belief that it strengthened them on the battlefield. They believed that plans and strategy on the battlefield led to death, and Zen helped followers dismiss such thoughts. Samurai, however, also embraced death and a disciplined samurai used zen meditation to confront the possible sensations of violent injuries daily. Zen philosophy also emphasizes mastering crafts and techniques by unifying body and mind through action without thought, which helped samurai master sword fighting, archery and other essential battle skills.