Myoshin-ji Temple

Lore & Background

Takuan Sōhō was born as the second son of Akiba Tsunanori, a samurai and senior retainer of the Yamana clan in Izushi, Tajima Province. When he was eight, the Yamana clan were defeated by the forces of Oda Nobunaga led by Hashiba Hideyoshi, making his father a ronin. In 1582 Takuan entered the temple of Shōen-ji as an acolyte, and in 1586 he was sent to Sōkyō-ji for further studies. In 1591, Maeno Nagayasu invited Kaoru Sotada, a disciple of Daitoku-ji's Shunoku Sōen, to administer Sōkyō-ji, and Takuan became his disciple. When Kaoru was transferred back to Daitoku-ji in 1594, Takuan accompanied him to Kyoto, studying also directly under Shunoku Sōen at Sangen-in. In 1599, Ishida Mitsunari built a memorial temple for his mother in Sawayama Castle; Shunoku and Takuan relocated there. After the fall of the castle following the Battle of Sekigahara and the death of Ishida Mitsunari, Takuan escaped. He assisted in the funeral services for Ishida Mitsunari at Sangen-in in Kyoto, though historical records do not confirm that he recovered the body. After his mentor Kaoru Sotada died, Takuan relocated to Sakai in Izumi Province. He took the name 'Takuan' in 1604.

In Their Own Story

In 1607, Takuan returned to Daitoku-ji and in 1609 was appointed its 154th head abbot. However, he left after only a few days for prolonged traveling, claiming he neither sought nor wanted the responsibility. Throughout his journeys, he raised and collected funds for the renovation of Daitoku-ji and other Zen temples. In 1620, he returned to Izushi where Sukyo-ji had recently been restored by the new daimyo, Koide Yoshihide. In what came to be called the 'Purple Robe Incident' (紫衣事件, Shie Jiken) in 1627, Emperor Go-Mizunoo awarded purple robes to senior monks at Daitoku-ji. The shogunate declared this illegal and ordered the Kyoto Shoshidai to confiscate the robes. Takuan, together with the senior priesthood of Daitoku-ji and Myōshin-ji, protested and were arrested. They were tried for sedition at Edo Castle before Shogun Tokugawa Hidetada, and Takuan was banished to Kaminoyama in Dewa Province. In 1632, after Hidetada's death, a general amnesty was proclaimed. Takuan returned to Daitoku-ji and was received in an audience arranged by Yagyū Munenori and Tenkai in Kyoto by Tokugawa Iemitsu, who was impressed by Takuan's intelligence and insights. At Iemitsu's invitation, he returned to Edo, giving many lectures to Iemitsu, who rescinded the 'Purple Robes decree' in 1641, restoring Daitoku-ji to its original honors. Iemitsu had Tōkai-ji constructed in Shinagawa in 1639 especially for Takuan, so he could draw on his counsel at any time.

Reader's Guide

Takuan refused to give Dharma transmission, preferring to cut off his line. He felt the Dharma was not something which could be passed on. His final instructions were: 'I have no disciple who has succeeded to my Dharma. After I am dead, if anyone says he is my heir, that person is a Dharma thief. Report him to the authorities and see that he is punished severely!' According to Haskel, Takuan's view was that 'Zen mind exists any time a dedicated practitioner experiences realization, with or without a teacher's sanction and support.' Takuan died in Edo in 1645. Before his death, he wrote the kanji for 'dream' (夢, yume) and laid down his brush. He left a will stating that a 'tombstone must not be built' and that he should be buried without ceremony in an unmarked grave. His disciples erected gravestones at Tōkai-ji and at Sukyō-ji in Izushi. His grave at Tōkai-ji was proclaimed a National Historic Site in 1926. Takuan taught that the Right Mind, or Mind of No-Mind, is not placed anywhere but moves freely in all directions. He said, 'Put nowhere, it will be everywhere.' He critiqued placing the mind below the navel in concentration, saying it is 'a low level of understanding.' He advised and befriended many, including Itō Ittōsai, Mikogami Tenzen, Yagyū Munenori, Ishida Mitsunari, Kuroda Nagamasa, Go-Mizunoo, and Tokugawa Iemitsu. His collected writings total six volumes and over 100 published poems, including his best known treatise, The Unfettered Mind. He has been credited with the invention of the yellow pickled daikon radish that carries the name 'takuan'.

Did You Know?

• Takuan Sōhō was born as the second son of a samurai and senior retainer of the Yamana clan.
• He assisted in the funeral services for Ishida Mitsunari after the Battle of Sekigahara, though recovering his body is not supported by historical records.
• Takuan was appointed the 154th head abbot of Daitoku-ji in 1609 but left after only a few days.
• He was banished to Kaminoyama in Dewa Province for his role in the 'Purple Robe Incident' of 1627.
• Takuan refused to give Dharma transmission, calling anyone who claimed to be his heir a 'Dharma thief'.