Steven Heine is the Director of the Institute for Asian Studies and a Professor of Religious Studies at Florida International University. He has published thirty books on Zen and East Asian religion and society.

"Heine emerges not only as a scholar and writer but most importantly as an erudite storyteller largely tracing the history and development of Chinese Chán and Japanese Zen from the mid-1200s to the mid-1300s. The volume nevertheless offers a thorough contextual background ... [and] can be appreciated by both scholars knowledgeable in the field, as well as by general readers with a keen interest in Chán and/or Zen." -- Zuzana Kubovčáková, Religious Studies Review

"a focused introduction to the transmission of Chan from China to Japan in the thirteenth century with considerable information and summary of current scholarship on all aspects of Chan/Zen Buddhism. To date, there is no other book of comparable scope and coverage ... Overall, Heine's new book is stimulating and inspiring. I am sure it will open many doors for students of Chan/Zen to embark on new research projects. I highly recommend it to students and scholars." -- Jiang Wu, History of Religions

"This book is a scholarly expedition that follows Zen Buddhism from China to Japan, and through all points in between. Through his erudition, his familiarity with Zen and East Asian Buddhism, and his comprehensive knowledge of related literature, Steven Heine succeeds in evoking the vibration of Zen Buddhism in his readers while enriching and renewing their understanding of the tradition."--Jin Y. Park, author of Women and Buddhist Philosophy

"From Chinese Chan to Japanese Zen showcases Steven Heine's mastery of an array of primary and secondary sources, as well as his outstanding ability to communicate clearly to both scholarly and general audiences. It will be readily appreciated by scholars working in fields such as East Asian Buddhism and Japanese history, as well as by general readers interested in learning about the rich history of Zen." --Mario Poceski, Professor of Buddhist Studies and Chinese Religions, University of Florida

"This is a book that has needed to be written, and we are fortunate that it was Steven Heine who chose to write it. Drawing on his impressive expertise, Heine skillfully illuminates how the Chan school was transplanted into Japan and became the Zen sect. Readers will appreciate his close attention to the cultural and socio-political dimensions of that transmission."--Christopher Ives, author of Imperial-Way Zen

"Few scholars of Zen are as approachable and rewarding to read as Heine... This study is erudite and wonderful to read." --CHOICE