Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Buddhist : Zen / Chan

18th Century

Japan
(East Asia)

Ryokan

Timeline (1758 - 1831)

Poems by Ryokan
Books - Links

Ryokan, Ryokan poetry, Buddhist, Buddhist poetry, Zen / Chan poetry, poetry, poetry

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Like Han-shan in China, Ryokan is loved in Japan as much for his antics as for his profound poetry.

Ryokan became a priest at age 18 and took to a life of wandering. He eventually met his teacher, Kokusen Roshi, and settled down to study Zen practice, ultimately becoming his most esteemed student. When Kokusen Roshi died, Ryokan inherited his temple. But the duties and regularity of being temple master didn't suit Ryokan, and he resumed his itinerant life.

He next settled in a small hut he called Gogo-an on Mt. Kugami, where he lived by begging.

Ryokan's love of children and animals are legendary. He often played games with the local children, attested to in his own poetry.

His reputation for gentleness carried sometimes to comical extremes. One tale is told that, one day when Ryokan returned to his hut he discovered a robber who had broken in and was in the process of stealing the impoverished monk's few possessions. In the thief's haste to leave, he left behind a cushion. Ryokan grabbed the cushion and ran after the thief to give it to him. This event prompted Ryokan to compose one of his best known poems:

The thief left it behind:
the moon
at my window.

When Ryokan was 70 and nearing the end of his life, he met a young nun and poet named Teishin. Though Teishin was only 28, they fell in love. They exchanged several beautiful love poems.

As Ryokan was dying, Teishin came to him and held him at his moment of death. It was Teishin who collected and published Ryokan's poetry after his death.

Poems by Ryokan

	First days of spring -- the sky
	Reply to a Friend
	The Lotus
	The plants and flowers
	The thief left it behind:
	The winds have died, but flowers go on falling;
	This world
	To kindle a fire,
	When all thoughts
	You stop to point at the moon in the sky,

Recommended Books

	Between the Floating Mist: Poems of Ryokan, Translated by Hide Oshiro / Translated by Dennis Maloney Amazon.com
	Between Two Souls: Conversations with Ryokan, by Mary Lou Kownacki Amazon.com
	Dewdrops on a Lotus Leaf: Zen Poems of Ryokan, Translated by John Stevens Amazon.com
	The Enlightened Heart: An Anthology of Sacred Poetry, by Stephen Mitchell Amazon.com
	Great Fool: Zen Master Ryokan: Poems, Letters, and Other Writings, Translated by Ryuichi Abe Amazon.com
	One Robe, One Bowl: The Zen Poetry of Ryokan, Translated by John Stevens Amazon.com
	The Poetry of Zen: (Shambhalla Library), Edited by Sam Hamill / Edited by J. P. Seaton Amazon.com
	Ryokan: Zen Monk-Poet of Japan, Translated by Burton Watson Amazon.com
	The Zen Fool Ryokan, Translated by Misao Kodama Amazon.com

Related Links:

	ryokan http://www.tamucc.edu/~sencerz/ryokan.htm Several poems by Ryokan.
	Poems of Ryokan http://hjem.get2net.dk/civet-cat/poetry-stories/ryokan.htm Many poems of Ryokan on-line.
	Gogo-an: Ryokan's Hermit Hut http://www.hermitary.com/articles/ryokan.html Article on Ryokan and how he viewed his life of simplicity as exemplefied by his hut.
	Olympia Zen Center: The Priest Ryokan San http://www.spindrift.org/olyzen/ryokan.html Brief biography of Ryokan

Please support the Poetry Chaikhana, as well as the authors and publishers of sacred poetry, by purchasing some of the recommended books through the links on this site. Thank you!

Poetry Chaikhana Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Ryokan

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Sacred Poetry from Around the World