[1] The book grew out of Suzuki's 1914 publications for the Japanese journal New East.

Although the editor, Robertson Scott, suggested that Suzuki publish them in book form, he did not decide to do so until after the 1927 publication of his book Zen Essays, which he decided would be "too heavy" as an introduction to Zen for beginners.

[2] An Introduction to Zen Buddhism was published in 1934 in Kyoto by the Eastern Buddhist Society.

[3] The Marshall Jones Company of Boston oversaw first publication in the United States.

[4] In 1949, the book was reprinted in London and New York with Jung's preface, translated by Constance Rolfe, included.