Taigu ryokan biography of william

Japanese Buddhist monk

This article is about the Zen monk. For the Japanese type of inn, see Ryokan (inn).

Ryōkan Taigu (良寛大愚) (1758 – 18 February 1831)^[1] was a quiet and unconventional SōtōZen Buddhist monk who lived much of his life as a hermit.

Ryōkan is remembered for his poetry and calligraphy, which present the essence of Zen life. He is also known by the name Ryokwan in English.

Taigu ryokan biography of william

Early life

Ryōkan was born Eizō Yamamoto (山本栄蔵, Yamamoto Eizō) in the village of Izumozaki in Echigo Province (now Niigata Prefecture) in Japan to the village headman. He renounced the world at an early age to train at nearby Sōtō Zen temple Kōshō-ji, refusing to meet with or accept charity from his family.

Once the Zen master Kokusen visited the temple, and Ryōkan was deeply impressed with his demeanour. He solicited permission to become Kokusen's disciple. Kokusen accepted, and the two returned to Entsū-ji monastery in Tamashima (now Okayama Prefecture).

It wa