Takuan Sōhō

Deceased Person

1573 – 1645

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Who was Takuan Sōhō?

Takuan Sōhō was a major figure in the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism.

Takuan Sōhō was born into a family of farmers in the town of Izushi, in what was called Tajima province. At the age of 8 in 1581, Takuan began his religious studies; two years later he entered a Buddhist monastery. By the age of 14 in 1587, Takuan started studying the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism under the tutelage of his sensei Shun-oku Soen.

By age 36 in 1608, Takuan was made abbot of the Daitoku-ji Temple in Kyoto, Japan. Unfortunately, Takuan's appointment was shortened as he left for a prolonged period of traveling. Throughout his journeys, Takuan raised and collected funds for the renovation of Daitoku-ji Temple and other Zen temples.

In 1629, Takuan was banished to northern Japan by the Shogunate of Tokugawa Hidetada due to his protest of political interference in Buddhist temple matters pertaining to ecclesiastical appointments. By 1632, there was a general amnesty after the death of Tokugawa Hidetada, and Takuan’s period of banishment came to an end. Later, Takuan was invited by Tokugawa Iemitsu to become the first abbot of Tokai-ji Temple in Edo, which was constructed especially for the Tokugawa family.

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Born
1573
Izushi
Nationality
  • Japan
Died
1645

Submitted
on July 23, 2013

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