Changes

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

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

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 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. While Ryûkyû had been mentioned in Japanese documents since the 7th century, Taichû's ''[[Ryukyu shinto ki|Ryûkyû shintô ki]]'' and ''[[Ryukyu orai|Ryûkyû ôrai]]'' are perhaps the first Japanese texts to describe Ryûkyû at length.<ref name=yoko51>Yokoyama Manabu 横山学, ''Ryûkyû koku shisetsu torai no kenkyû'' 琉球国使節渡来の研究, Tokyo: Yoshikawa kôbunkan (1987), 51.</ref>

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]]''.

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 ''Ryûkyû ôrai'' (completed 1603) and ''Ryûkyû shintô ki'' (completed 1605/4, revised [[1607]]).<ref name=yoko51/>

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.

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.

==References==

==References==

*"[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-41954-storytopic-121.html Taichû]," ''Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia'' 沖縄コンパクト事典, Ryukyu Shimpo, 1 March 2003.

*"[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-41954-storytopic-121.html Taichû]," ''Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia'' 沖縄コンパクト事典, Ryukyu Shimpo, 1 March 2003.

[[Category:Ryukyu]]

[[Category:Ryukyu]]

[[Category:Edo Period]]

[[Category:Edo Period]]

[[Category:Religious Figures]]

[[Category:Religious Figures]]