Description
The delightful and often funny poetry of Zen's quintessential free spirit, Master Ryokan--in a fresh translation by a beloved American Zen figure
Ryokan Taigu (1758-1831) was a monk in the Soto lineage of Japanese Zen who spent a good part of his life as a hermit, writing poetry, playing with children, and creating simple and exquisitely beautiful calligraphies--sometimes using twigs as his instrument when he couldn't afford a brush. He was never head of a monastery or temple and as an old man, he fell in love with a young Zen nun who also became his student. His affection for her colors the mature poems of his late period. This loving tribute to the great legendary nonconformist includes more than 140 of his poems, 13 examples of his art, and a selection of laugh-out-loud funny anecdotes about his highly idiosyncratic teaching behavior.
Author: Kazuaki Tanahashi
Publisher: Shambhala
Published: 10/09/2012
Pages: 224
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.65lbs
Size: 7.60h x 5.20w x 0.80d
ISBN13: 9781590309827
ISBN10: 1590309820
BISAC Categories:
- Poetry | Ancient & Classical
- Poetry | Asian | Japanese
- Religion | Buddhism | Zen (see also Philosophy | Zen)
Ryokan Taigu (1758-1831) was a monk in the Soto lineage of Japanese Zen who spent a good part of his life as a hermit, writing poetry, playing with children, and creating simple and exquisitely beautiful calligraphies--sometimes using twigs as his instrument when he couldn't afford a brush. He was never head of a monastery or temple and as an old man, he fell in love with a young Zen nun who also became his student. His affection for her colors the mature poems of his late period. This loving tribute to the great legendary nonconformist includes more than 140 of his poems, 13 examples of his art, and a selection of laugh-out-loud funny anecdotes about his highly idiosyncratic teaching behavior.
Author: Kazuaki Tanahashi
Publisher: Shambhala
Published: 10/09/2012
Pages: 224
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.65lbs
Size: 7.60h x 5.20w x 0.80d
ISBN13: 9781590309827
ISBN10: 1590309820
BISAC Categories:
- Poetry | Ancient & Classical
- Poetry | Asian | Japanese
- Religion | Buddhism | Zen (see also Philosophy | Zen)
About the Author
Ryokan (1758-1831) is, along with Dogen and Hakuin, one of the three giants of Zen in Japan. But unlike his two renowned colleagues, Ryokan was a societal dropout, living mostly as a hermit and a beggar. He is now regarded as one of the greatest poets of the Edo Period, along with Basho, Buson, and Issa. He was also a master artist-calligrapher with a very distinctive style, due mostly to his unique and irrepressible spirit.