Among the writings attributed to Eihei Dōgen, several stand out as central to his spiritual legacy and to the formation of Sōtō Zen. Foremost is the *Shōbōgenzō* (“Treasury of the True Dharma Eye”), often regarded as his masterwork, a collection of philosophical and instructional essays on Zen practice, enlightenment, and the nature of reality. Within this body of work, individual fascicles such as *Genjōkōan*, *Uji*, *Bendōwa*, *Sansuikyō*, *Busshō*, and *Dōtoku* are frequently singled out for their depth and subtlety. These writings do not merely expound doctrine; they invite a reorientation of perception, where everyday experience is seen as the very site of awakening.

Another major collection is the *Eihei Kōroku* (“Extensive Record of Eihei Dōgen”), which gathers his formal dharma talks, ceremonies, informal dialogues, and other sayings. This record offers a more immediate sense of his teaching style and mature expression, complementing the more intricate and often poetic explorations found in the *Shōbōgenzō*. Alongside these, the *Shōbōgenzō Zuimonki* (“Record of Things Heard”) presents informal talks and responses to questions, preserved through the efforts of his disciple Koun Ejō. Taken together, these texts reveal a teacher who addressed both the highest philosophical concerns and the concrete struggles of daily practice.

Dōgen also composed more concise and practical writings that have become foundational for Sōtō Zen practice. *Fukan Zazengi* (“Universally Recommended Instructions for Zazen”) sets out the posture, attitude, and spirit of seated meditation, and has long served as a primary manual for zazen. *Bendōwa* (“On the Endeavor of the Way”) emphasizes the inseparability of practice and enlightenment, articulating how wholehearted engagement in the path is itself the realization of awakening. *Gakudō Yōjinshū* (“Points to Watch in Buddhist Training”) further elaborates guidelines for training, pointing practitioners toward a life shaped by vigilance, sincerity, and careful attention.

Finally, Dōgen devoted considerable care to the shape of communal and monastic life, seeing it as an embodiment of the Dharma. The *Eihei Shingi* (“Pure Standards for the Temple of Eternal Peace”) sets forth monastic regulations and standards for conduct, including texts such as *Tenzo Kyōkun* (“Instructions for the Cook”), which treats kitchen work as a profound field of practice. In these writings, the preparation of food, the observance of daily routines, and the ordering of the monastery are all presented as expressions of the same awakening explored in his more overtly philosophical works. Through this corpus, Dōgen’s vision emerges as one in which meditation, doctrine, and the smallest details of daily life interpenetrate, each illuminating the others.