Zen as a Colonial Force: How the West Inadvertently Spawned an Asian Empire

Japan presents a unique case in both Asian history and modern imperialism. Unlike most Asian nations, Japan, along with Korea and Thailand, was never colonised by the West. Additionally, Japan's rapid transformation from a feudal society to an imperial power by the late 1890s established it as the only non-Western empire of modern times. Japan's initial isolation and rapid modernisation helps to explain why Japan was unique. But a clearer picture can be painted when it is understood that the expansion of Japan's imperial ambitions coincided with increased interactions with the West, specifically, the 1893 Parliament of World’s Religions. This period saw the repackaging of Japanese Zen to support nationalist agendas and assert Japanese dominance. This essay explores how historical circumstances and the strategic use of Buddhism helped Japan resist Western colonisation and develop a unique national identity and bushidō, exemplified by its actions during World War II and the slogan ‘Asia for the Asians’. The essay will cover Japan's engagement with Orientalism, the practical reasons for the nationalisation of Buddhism during the Meiji period, the influence of Western scholars like Paul Carus on D.T. Suzuki, and the manifestation of Japan's imperial spirit in the Dutch East Indies in 1942.