Heinrich Dumoulin

Heinrich Dumoulin

Heinrich Dumoulin, S.J. (May 31, 1905 – July 21, 1995) was a Jesuit theologian, a widely published author on Zen Buddhism, and a professor of philosophy and history at Sophia University in Tokyo, Japan (where he was Professor Emeritus). He was the founder of its Institute for Oriental Religions, as well as the first Director of the Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture.

He was born in Rhineland, Germany, and ordained as a Jesuit priest in 1933. In 1935 he was sent to Japan on missions under the guidance of Fr. Hugo Lassalle, where he became fluent in Shinto religion and Buddhism.

He died in 1995 at the age of 90.