"Zen and Japanese Culture" is one of the twentieth century's leading works on Zen, and a valuable source for those wishing to understand its concepts in the context of Japanese life and art. In simple, often poetic, language, Daisetz Suzuki describes his conception of Zen and its historical evolution. He connects Zen to the philosophy of the samurai, and subtly portrays the relationship between Zen and swordsmanship, haiku, tea ceremonies, and the Japanese love of nature. Suzuki's contemplative work is enhanced by anecdotes, poetry, and illustrations showing silk screens, calligraphy, and examples of architecture. Since its original publication in 1938, this important work has played a major role in shaping conceptions of Zen's influence on Japanese traditional arts. Richard Jaffe's introduction acquaints a new generation of readers with Suzuki's life and career in both Japan and America. Jaffe discusses how "Zen and Japanese Culture" was received upon its first publication and analyzes the book in light of contemporary criticism, especially by scholars of Japanese Buddhism.

鈴木大拙（DAISETZ T. SUZUKI）（1870—1966），1870年生於日本石川縣金澤市本多町，本名鈴木貞太郎。年輕時曾隨今北洪川與釋宗演兩位禪師學禪，1897年留美，凡十二年，1909年迴國。迴國後曆任學習院講師、東京帝國大學講師、大榖大學教授，並創立“東方佛教徒協會”。1949年獲日本政府頒發的文化勛章，1964年獲印度亞細亞協會頒發的第一屆泰戈爾誕生百年奬。1966年逝世於東京聖路加醫院，戒名“也風流庵大拙居士”。鈴木大拙作為日本現代著名的禪學思想傢，比之同時代的其他日本佛教學者更具有世界性，所以在日本被譽為“世界的禪者”。他一生著述宏豐，撰寫瞭大量有關東方禪學和文化的英文著作，對西方影響頗深。