Dogen (1200-1253) was the founder of Soto Zen Buddhism in Japan, and as such one of the most notable figures in Japanese religious history. In this book, Steven Heine attempts to clarify how and when Dogen's various works were composed and compiled in relation to the unfolding of Dogen's career. In addition to presenting Heine's own innovative interpretation of Dogen's life and work, this book performs a valuable service by bringing cutting edge Japanese scholarship on Dogen to the attention of of Western scholars of Buddhism.