Recollections of Two Meetings with Dr. Daisaku Ikeda

by Ma Min

[From a book of tributes by Chinese officials and scholars, Fengfan chang cun zhuiyi Chitian Dazuo yong zhu youhao jinqiao (In Loving Memory of Daisaku Ikeda)][1]

Dr. Daisaku Ikeda is a world-renowned visionary. I count myself fortunate to have had the rare opportunity to meet with him twice and personally hear his teachings. It was an immense honor!

The first meeting took place in June 2005. At the time, I was serving as the President of Central China Normal University. I visited Soka University, founded by Dr. Ikeda, at their invitation, as part of an official delegation that included Professor Li Exian from the Japanese Department, representing our university.

I vividly recall the day of our visit. It was early summer, with clear skies stretching endlessly above. Although cherry blossom season had passed, the Soka University campus remained vibrant, shaded by lush greenery and adorned with flourishing grasses—a scene teeming with life. Upon entering the campus, we were warmly greeted by rows of enthusiastic faculty and students. The university hosted a grand welcome ceremony in the auditorium. Unexpectedly, Dr. Ikeda himself, accompanied by Soka University President Masami Wakae, personally welcomed us, shaking hands with each guest. His warmth made us feel immediately at home.

It was my first time meeting Dr. Ikeda. Of medium stature, he was in his 80s but appeared vigorous, his face glowing with vitality. His bright, penetrating eyes and resonant voice exuded the charisma of a great leader.

Addressing the assembly of Soka faculty and students, Dr. Ikeda first extended a warm welcome to our delegation, expressing his hope for establishing formal exchange relations and fostering multifaceted cooperation between our universities. Then, shifting topics, he spoke of my mentor, Professor Zhang Kaiyuan, praising him as both an outstanding historian and an exceptional educator who had nurtured numerous talented historians, affectionately referred to as “disciples of the Zhang school,” ensuring the continuation of academic scholarship. I was astonished by Dr. Ikeda’s detailed knowledge of Professor Zhang, which suggested he had thoroughly studied our university’s background in preparation for the meeting.

Even more surprising, Dr. Ikeda spoke of Yun Daiying—an alumnus of our university during its Zhonghua University era and a young revolutionary—whom Dr. Ikeda deeply admired in his youth as a role model for young people. He spoke of Yun with such intimate familiarity, as if renumerating cherished items in his own collection. He even recited a poem written by Yun Daiying, demonstrating that this was clearly not a matter of last-minute preparation, but a reflection of his genuine and profound understanding of Yun’s life and achievements.

In my response, I expressed heartfelt thanks to Dr. Ikeda for his insightful remarks and conveyed our university’s strong desire to engage in wide-ranging academic exchanges with Soka University. Then, on a sudden impulse, I proposed that Dr. Ikeda—whose dialogues with numerous world-renowned figures have had a far-reaching impact—consider engaging in a conversation with my mentor, Professor Zhang Kaiyuan. I felt that a dialogue between a Japanese religious leader, social activist, and educator, and a Chinese historian and educator of a similar generation, would be truly meaningful and a source of inspiration and benefit for future generations.

At the time, I assumed I was simply speaking offhand, never expecting Dr. Ikeda to respond so readily. But to my astonishment, he immediately and enthusiastically agreed, expressing his strong willingness to meet with Professor Zhang. I was not only surprised, but also deeply moved and grateful from the bottom of my heart.

The hospitality of Dr. Ikeda and the Soka University team left a lasting impression. June 18, the day of our visit, happened to be my 50th birthday. I’ve never been in the habit of celebrating my birthday, and with the busy schedule of the trip, I had completely forgotten the date myself. However, during the luncheon hosted by Soka University, a staff member brought out a large birthday cake to celebrate the occasion, making it one of the most unforgettable birthdays of my life. That evening, Dr. Ikeda’s son, Hiromasa Ikeda, hosted a formal dinner for us at “Oteian,” a beautiful venue rich with traditional Japanese charm, where we enjoyed a warm and friendly exchange.

The responsiveness and care with which the Soka Gakkai responded under Dr. Ikeda’s leadership were equally impressive. Shortly after our return to Wuhan, and with Professor Zhang’s approval, Soka University sent a formal invitation to organize the dialogue, finalizing the schedule and format for December of that same year. This led to my second visit to Soka University and my second meeting with Dr. Ikeda.

In December 2005, responding to an invitation from Soka University, I and Professor Li Exian accompanied Professor Zhang to Japan. On December 13, as previously arranged, Professor Zhang visited Soka University in Hachioji for his first meeting and dialogue with Dr. Ikeda.

It was a bright and clear winter day, with Mount Fuji’s snow-capped peak faintly visible in the distance—an uplifting and picturesque sight. In the morning, Soka University held a grand ceremony to confer an honorary doctorate on Professor Zhang. President Wakae presented the honorary degree certificate, followed by a brief speech from Professor Zhang. During the short yet solemn ceremony, students also gave speeches and performed a song, creating a warm and heartfelt atmosphere.

Following a lunch of elegantly prepared bento boxes with university officials, Professor Zhang proceeded to meet Dr. Ikeda.

The two older gentlemen greeted each other like old friends, embracing warmly. After brief pleasantries, they moved to a simple yet elegant Japanese-style reception room, sitting across from each other on tatami mats to begin their dialogue. Dr. Ikeda had his own interpreter, while Professor Li Exian served as our translator. Both interpreters were fluent and precise, with Dr. Ikeda even complimenting Professor Li’s Japanese.

They began by sharing their backgrounds, childhoods, and formative experiences with their respective mentors. At Dr. Ikeda’s suggestion, their dialogue would center on shared concerns such as history, education, humanity, and global issues, with both sides speaking openly and freely. Given Professor Zhang’s prominence as a historian, history naturally became the primary focus. Dr. Ikeda recounted his mentor Josei Toda’s encouragement to “study history” and “read the classics,” emphasizing that “a profound and accurate understanding of history is humanity’s greatest gift to the future.

Professor Zhang reflected on his experience reading the dialogue between Dr. Ikeda and British historian Arnold Toynbee, Choose Life: A Dialogue. He praised the depth of their discussions on the pressing challenges facing humanity and marveled at the encyclopedic breadth of their knowledge. He remarked, “Outstanding historical scholarship is a cultural treasure, a legacy that belongs to all humankind, and should be cherished as a precious jewel, passed down through the ages.”

The two found a remarkable connection, expressing mutual admiration. Professor Zhang humorously remarked, “There’s an old Chinese saying, ‘It’s a pity we didn’t meet sooner.’ But I don’t feel it’s too late. I’m already 81 years old, yet I remain healthy and clear-headed (laughs). I’m confident we’ll have many meaningful dialogues in the future.” Dr. Ikeda responded, “It is my great fortune to engage in this groundbreaking dialogue with such an eminent historian representing the East. I am profoundly moved and thrilled.”

This was just the beginning of their renowned dialogue. Over the course of more than a year, the two continued their discussions through email and online exchanges, engaging in over a dozen conversations. These eventually culminated in the publication of The Gift of the Century: A Dialogue Between Zhang Kaiyuan and Daisaku Ikeda (tentative English translation). Translated into multiple languages, the work has had a broad and far-reaching impact around the world.

I feel incredibly fortunate to have twice witnessed Dr. Ikeda’s inspiring presence and to have been a part of the historic dialogue between these two great mentors. Though both Dr. Ikeda and Professor Zhang have since passed away, their wisdom and vision remain eternal treasures of human culture.

(The author is a former President of Central China Normal University and a professor of history.)

Created by the Daisaku Ikeda Website Committee

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