Ikkyū Sōjun

Ikkyū Sōjun (1394–1481) was a Japanese Zen Buddhist monk and poet, renowned for his significant contributions to Japanese culture during the Muromachi period. As a pivotal figure in the Zen movement, Ikkyū's work often challenged the conventions of his time, blending spiritual insight with a profound appreciation for the arts. His poetry, characterized by its wit and irreverence, played a crucial role in shaping the development of Japanese literature and Zen thought. Ikkyū's life was marked by periods of wandering and monastic discipline, and he is credited with revitalizing the Daitoku-ji temple in Kyoto. His legacy endures through his writings and the influence he exerted on subsequent generations of artists and thinkers.