Jakushitsu Genkō

Jakushitsu Genkō
Religion	Zen Buddhism
School	Rinzai
Personal
Nationality	Japanese
Born	June 23, 1290
Died	September 25, 1367
Senior posting
Title	Zen master poet 1st abbot of Eigen-ji

Jakushitsu Genkō (寂室 元光, June 23, 1290 – September 25, 1367) 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.

See also

• Buddhism in Japan
• List of Rinzai Buddhists