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Eisai, also known as Yôsai, was the founder of the [[Rinzai]] school of [[Zen]] [[Buddhism]] in Japan.

Eisai, also known as Yôsai, was the founder of the [[Rinzai]] school of [[Zen]] [[Buddhism]] in Japan.

Eisai traveled to [[Song Dynasty]] [[China]] twice, in [[1168]] and [[1187]].<ref>Robert Morrell, "Zeami's Kasuga Ryûjin (Dragon God of Kasuga), or Myôe Shônin," ''Early Kamakura Buddhism: A Minority Report'', Asian Humanities Press (1987), 103.</ref> Upon his return in [[1191]], he introduced the Rinzai (C: ''Linji'') school of Zen (C: ''Chan'') to Japan, along with powdered [[tea]]. The religious practices he introduced included, prominently, the consideration of ''[[koan|kôan]]'', riddles meant to help one achieve personal, individual, enlightenment through contemplation of paradoxes and mysteries.

Eisai traveled to [[Song Dynasty]] [[China]] twice, in [[1168]] and [[1187]].<ref>Robert Morrell, "Zeami's Kasuga Ryûjin (Dragon God of Kasuga), or Myôe Shônin," ''Early Kamakura Buddhism: A Minority Report'', Asian Humanities Press (1987), 103.</ref> During his second sojourn, he studied at the [[Tiantongsi]] in [[Ningbo]], one of the so-called "Five Mountains," the top five [[Chan]] (i.e. Zen) temples in China.<ref name=glahn275>Richard von Glahn, "The Ningbo-Hakata Merchant Network and the Reorientation of East Asian Maritime Trade, 1150-1350," ''Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies'' 74:2 (2014), 275.</ref>

After a time in [[Kamakura]], Eisai moved to [[Kyoto]], where he found his heterodox ideas less welcome. He had been impressed by the level of discipline in Chinese Buddhist temples, and sought to bring that to Japan, to revive the vibrancy and strength of [[Tendai]] practice, but was politically opposed by the Tendai establishment on [[Mt. Hiei]]. A rival group known as the [[Darumashu|Darumashû]], which advocated that no discipline, and no specific ritual practice at all was necessary, since enlightenment could come from any activity, also posed a problem. The Imperial Court banned the teachings of both Eisai and of the Darumashû in [[1194]], but Eisai went on to compile, nevertheless, a work "On the Propagation of Zen for the Protection of the State" (''Kôzen gokokuron'') in [[1198]]. He established the first Zen monastery in Japan, the [[Shofuku-ji|Shôfuku-ji]] in [[Hakata]], in [[1195]].<ref>Richard von Glahn, "The Ningbo-Hakata Merchant Network and the Reorientation of East Asian Maritime Trade, 1150-1350," Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies 74:2 (2014), 275.</ref>

 

After a time in [[Kamakura]], Eisai moved to [[Kyoto]], where he found his heterodox ideas less welcome. He had been impressed by the level of discipline in Chinese Buddhist temples, and sought to bring that to Japan, to revive the vibrancy and strength of [[Tendai]] practice, but was politically opposed by the Tendai establishment on [[Mt. Hiei]]. A rival group known as the [[Darumashu|Darumashû]], which advocated that no discipline, and no specific ritual practice at all was necessary, since enlightenment could come from any activity, also posed a problem. The Imperial Court banned the teachings of both Eisai and of the Darumashû in [[1194]], but Eisai went on to compile, nevertheless, a work "On the Propagation of Zen for the Protection of the State" (''Kôzen gokokuron'') in [[1198]]. He established the first Zen monastery in Japan, the [[Shofuku-ji|Shôfuku-ji]] in [[Hakata]], in [[1195]].<ref name=glahn275/>

In the end, Eisai accommodated a number of Tendai and [[Shingon]] practices, incorporating them into his practice of Zen, in order to gain greater acceptance.

In the end, Eisai accommodated a number of Tendai and [[Shingon]] practices, incorporating them into his practice of Zen, in order to gain greater acceptance.