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*''Japanese'': 夢窓疎石 ''(Musou Soseki)''

*''Japanese'': 夢窓疎石 ''(Musou Soseki)''

Musô Soseki was a [[Zen]] priest known for having founded a number of temples in [[Kamakura]].

Musô Soseki was a [[Zen]] priest known for having founded a number of temples in [[Kamakura]], and as a designer of temple gardens. He was named ''kokushi'' ("national teacher") by seven emperors, and has been described as "probably the most famous monk of his time."<ref>de Bary, 310.</ref>

He first traveled to Kamakura from the capital in [[1326]]. As head of [[Jochiji|Jôchiji]], he founded Zuisen-in, now known as [[Zuisen-ji (Kamakura)|Zuisen-ji]]. After becoming the head of [[Engakuji]], he left Kamakura for a time, founding [[Tenryu-ji|Tenryû-ji]], [[Saiho-ji|Saihô-ji]], [[Shokoku-ji|Shôkoku-ji]]<ref>Mason, Penelope. ''History of Japanese Art''. Second Edition. Upper Saddle River NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2005. p224.</ref>, and other temples in the [[Kyoto]] area.

When he was first offered the position of abbot of a Zen monastery in Kamakura by the [[Hojo clan (Hojo Regents)|Hôjô clan]], he initially refused, instead accepting an offer from [[Emperor Go-Daigo]] to become the abbot of a temple in Kyoto, in [[1325]]. He resigned the following year, however, traveling to Kamakura and taking up a position as an abbot at that time. As head of [[Jochiji|Jôchiji]], he founded Zuisen-in, now known as [[Zuisen-ji (Kamakura)|Zuisen-ji]]. After becoming the head of [[Engakuji]], in conjunction with the [[1333]] [[fall of Kamakura]], he returned to Kyoto, founding [[Saiho-ji|Saihô-ji]], [[Shokoku-ji|Shôkoku-ji]]<ref>Mason, Penelope. ''History of Japanese Art''. Second Edition. Upper Saddle River NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2005. p224.</ref>, and other temples in the [[Kyoto]] area, designing the gardens at Zuisenji and Saihôji as well.

He was well-connected politically, interacting with the likes of [[Emperor Go-Daigo]] and members of the [[Hojo clan|Hôjô]] and [[Ashikaga clan]]s, and is also known as a skilled designer of gardens. He is particularly famous for the gardens at Zuisenji and Saihôji.

Following Go-Daigo's fall and the establishment of the [[Ashikaga shogunate]] in [[1336]], Soseki then gained the patronage of [[Ashikaga Takauji]], who in [[1339]] had him establish [[Tenryu-ji|Tenryû-ji]] in Go-Daigo's memory.

==References==

==References==

*"Musô Soseki." [http://www.kamakura-burabura.com/jinbutum2.htm#musousoseki Kamakura-Burabura.com]. Accessed 16 December 2009.

*"Musô Soseki." [http://www.kamakura-burabura.com/jinbutum2.htm#musousoseki Kamakura-Burabura.com]. Accessed 16 December 2009.

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[[Category:Kamakura Period]]

[[Category:Kamakura Period]]

[[Category:Religious Figures]]

[[Category:Religious Figures]]