| Background: |
|
| Jakushitsu Genkō | |
| Birth Date: | June 23, 1290 |
| Birth Place: | Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan |
| Death Date: | September 25, 1367 |
| Nationality: | Japanese |
| Religion: | Zen Buddhism |
| School: | Rinzai |
| Zen master poet 1st abbot of Eigen-ji | |
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.[1]