Natsume Souseki and Zen

In his youth Natsume Souseki twice went to stay in Zenist temple seeking the Zenist truth. This experience influenced his later literary creation,especially in The Wayfarer,Ten Dreams,and The Gate,the main characters of which showed certain behaviors, thoughts,and faith similar to those of young Natsume Souseki. For Natsume Souseki,Zen was a mysterious spiritual world that he had been seeking to enter but unable to,and his literary characters,like himself,wanted to attain the truth but were enmeshed in inner conflicts and dilemma.