Ryōkan — the Gentle Zen poet-monk Ryōkan was a Japanese Zen monk, poet, and calligrapher born in 1758 in present-day Niigata, Japan. Born into a respected family, he was expected to take on social responsibilities, but from an early age he felt drawn toward solitude, contemplation, and spiritual life. As a young man, he left home and entered the Sōtō Zen tradition founded by Dōgen , studying under the Zen master Kokusen . After years of monastic training, Ryōkan chose a life of wandering and simplicity rather than religious status or temple leadership. He lived in small huts, begged for food, spent long periods in nature, and became known for his humility, kindness, and childlike spirit. Village children loved him because he played with them sincerely and without superiority. Ryōkan eventually settled in a small hermitage called Gogo-an, where he spent much of his later life writing poetry, practicing calligraphy, meditating, and living in poverty with remarkable contentment. His ...
