Jakushitsu Genkō
Japanese monk and poet
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The basics
Quick Facts
| Intro | Japanese monk and poet | |
| Places | Japan | |
| was | Poet | |
| Work field | Literature | |
| Gender |
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| Religion: | Buddhism | |
| Birth | 23 June 1290, Mimasaka, Japan | |
| Death | 25 September 1367 (aged 77 years) | |
| Star sign | Cancer |
The details
Biography
Jakushitsu Genkō (寂室 元光, June 23, 1290 – September 25, 1367) was a Japanese Rinzai master, poet, flute player, and first abbot of Eigen-ji (constructed solely for him to teach Zen). His poetry is considered to be among the finest of Zen poetry. He traveled to China and studied Ch'an with masters of the Linji school from 1320 to 1326, then returned to Japan and lived for many years as a hermit. It was only toward the end of his life that he decided to teach Zen to others.