Changes

*''Birth: [[1552]]''

*''Birth: [[1552]]''

*''Death: [[1639]]''

*''Death: [[1639]]''

*''Japanese'': 袋中 ''(Taichuu)''

*''Japanese'': 袋中良定 ''(Taichuu Ryoutei)''

Taichû was a Japanese Buddhist monk, originally from [[Mutsu province]], who was the first to bring [[Jodo shu|Jôdo shû]] (Pure Land) Buddhism to [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû]]. He resided in Ryûkyû from [[1603]] until [[1605]], and served as the chief priest of the temple [[Keirin-ji]]. He attracted many followers, including [[Gima Shinjo|Gima Shinjô]], and wrote the ''[[Ryukyu shinto ki|Ryûkyû shintô ki]]''.

Taichû was a Japanese Buddhist monk, originally from [[Iwaki province]], who was the first to bring [[Jodo shu|Jôdo shû]] (Pure Land) Buddhism to [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû]]. He took the tonsure at age 14, taking the monastic name Taichû Ryôtei, and then traveled to a number of temples across the realm, including [[Zojo-ji|Zôjô-ji]] in [[Edo]], for study. He also founded a ''bodai-in'' (family temple) within [[Iwakidaira castle]], where many works by him remain today.

 

Taichû wished to continue his study, however, by journeying to [[Ming Dynasty]] China, and hoped to also bring back Buddhist texts which might never have been introduced to Japan before. He departed Japan via [[Nagasaki]] or [[Hirado]] in [[1603]], but was refused entry into China, and so made his way to Ryûkyû. He then resided in Ryûkyû from 1603 until [[1605]], and served as the chief priest of the temple [[Keirin-ji]], spreading the teachings of ''Jôdo-shû'' and of the ''[[nenbutsu]]''. He attracted many followers, including [[Gima Shinjo|Gima Shinjô]], and wrote the ''[[Ryukyu shinto ki|Ryûkyû shintô ki]]''.

 

Following Taichû's return to Japan, King [[Sho Nei|Shô Nei]] of Ryûkyû sent over 30 items as royal gifts, many of which remain today in the treasure house of [[Dannohorin-ji|Dannôhôrin-ji]], a temple in Kyoto founded by Taichû upon his return.

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