 |
 |
 |
Takuan Soho was born in 1573. His parents were farmers living in the town
of
Young Takuan began his religious studies by the time he was eight years
old. By the time he was ten years old, he had entered a monastery. At the
age of fourteen, Takaun was studying Zen with the master Shun’oku Soen,
a Rinzai-sect Zen master at Daitokuji Temple in
Evidently, Takuan’s character and mastery of Zen impressed his
fellow monks. At the unprecedented age of 36, Takuan was made abbot of the
Daitokuji temple.
His tenure as Daitokuji abbot was short. Soon after his
appointment, Takuan left the temple and begin a long period of traveling.
During his journeys, he raised funds for the renovation of Daitokuji and other
Zen temples.
Takuan was apparently
unaffected by his fame and popularity. Known for his acerbic wit and strength
of character, Takuan was able to apply Zen principals to many activities. He was an accomplished gardener, painter, calligrapher, tea master, poet (over 100 published poems), and author (six volumes of collected works). He is also credited with inventing the yellow pickled radish called a takuan in his honor.
His writings to fencing
master, Lord Yagyu Munenori, are commonly studied by
contemporary martial artists.
Takuan advised and befriended many individuals, from all social strata
of life. Some of these included:
In 1629, Takuan was
banished to northern
Takuan died in