D.T. Suzuki Museum 鈴木大拙館

Contemporary architectural interpretation of D.T. Suzuki’s Buddhist philosophy

The D.T. Suzuki Museum is dedicated to the life and ideas of D.T. Suzuki (1870–1966), a world-famous Buddhist philosopher. The museum’s building, designed by architect Taniguchi Yoshio, uses clean, simple lines as an architectural interpretation of Suzuki's philosophy. The serene, open spaces are meant to inspire contemplation. There are exhibitions of Suzuki’s writings and photos that emphasize his thoughts about Zen Buddhism and its influence on daily life. Take time for thoughtful meditation in the three idyllic landscaped gardens, which include a glassy landscaped pond for self-reflection.

Suzuki is credited with popularizing Zen in the West through his book “Introduction to Zen Buddhism” (1934), worldwide lectures, and English translations of important Eastern philosophical texts. He was also skilled in Chinese and Sanskrit.