1275-1351. A well-respected Zen priest of the Rinzai sect, influential from the end of the Kamakura to the Northern and Southern Dynasties periods. He founded Tenryūji temple to pray for the repose of Emperor Go-Daigo, and was given the title of Kokushi, Most Reverend Priest. He deeply loved natural beauty, and was extremely knowledgeable about garden building. He brought about a decisive change in garden design, in accordance with the spirit of austere meditation on nature, the Zen ideal shown in Hekiganroku, and his garden design greatly influenced later gardening. The gardens of Zuisenji temple, Tenryūji temple, and Saihōji temple are representative of his work.
Japanese Garden Dictionary: A Glossary for Japanese Gardens and Their History
(C) 2010 by Ono Kenkichi and Walter Edwards. All rights reserved.
