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Takuan Sōhō

Type Figure Region Japan Time 1573–1645 Also known as Monk Takuan、Sōhō、Takuan

Takuan Sōhō (1573–1645) was a prominent Rinzai Zen monk and calligrapher of early Edo Japan, known for works such as Fudochi Shinmyōroku, and was val…

Timeline

  1. 1589–1609Ise · Mie PrefectureTakuan was born in Ise, took monastic vows in his youth, traveled widely to study Zen, and practiced at various temples in the early 1600s, gradually gaining renown.
  2. 1610–1629Edo · Tokyo MetropolisIn the 1610s he was invited by Tokugawa Ieyasu and Hidetada, participated in Zen consultations in Edo, and exchanged with samurai such as Yagyū Munenori. Between 1610 and 1620 he authored works such as Fudochi Shinmyōroku, influencing the spiritual training of Edo samurai.
  3. 1629–1645Kyoto · Kyoto PrefectureAfter being pardoned and restored, he continued to teach the Dharma, becoming renowned for his calligraphy and garden design, leaving behind numerous calligraphic works until his passing in 1645.

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