Steven Heine is professor of Religious Studies and History and director of Asian Studies at Florida International University. His research specialty deals with Japanese religion and society, particularly the origins of Zen Buddhism stemming from China in the thirteenth century based on the life and thought of Dogen (1200-1253), founder of the Soto Zen sect. Heine has published two dozen books, including The Zen Poetry of Dogen, Did Dogen Go to China?, Zen Skin, Zen Marrow and the forthcoming Like Cats and Dogs: Contesting the Mu Koan in Zen Buddhism. His current studies focus on the role of Chinese texts useful for understanding the background of Zen in Japan, especially from Song dynasty sources. Heine has also won a dozen major grants from Japan Foundation, National Endowment for Humanities, Freeman Foundation, and US Department of Education.
