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

Taichû journeyed to [[Mt. Hiei]] at age 20, and studied there for a time, as well as studying the secrets of Esoteric Buddhism at [[Raigo-in|Raigô-in]] in Kyoto. At the age of 30, he published a Sanskrit/Chinese text called ''Bonkan taiei shû''<!--梵漢対映集-->.<ref name=yoko52>Yokoyama, 58n2.</ref> By age 52, however, he wished to continue his study 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. There, he attempted on several occasions to board European ships to China, but the Ryukyuans refused to allow him to do so, knowing of the Ming bans on intercourse with Japanese.<ref name=yoko58/> Taichû thus remained 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.