Ikkyu

Ikkyū Sōjun (1394–1481), commonly known simply as Ikkyū, was a Japanese Zen Buddhist monk and poet of the Muromachi period. A member of the Rinzai school, he became a symbol of nonconformist Zen and is remembered for his irreverent wit, unorthodox behavior, and devotion to the enlightenment of ordinary people. He spent much of his life as a wandering monk, though he spent periods in Kyoto's Daitoku-ji temple complex and its sub-temples, where he engaged in teaching and daily practice. Much of what is known about him comes from legends and later biographies; details vary and contemporaries recorded episodes of humor, rebellion against clerical authority, and compassionate teaching.

Ikkyū's poetry and koan-like sayings convey a direct, experiential approach to Zen. He is credited with shaping the popular image of Zen as a living, practical path rather than a formalistic tradition. His influence extended beyond religious circles to the arts, including the tea ceremony and literature, and he is celebrated as a symbol of wit and spiritual insight in Japanese culture.

Iconography often depicts Ikkyū as a small, shaved-headed monk; in art and popular culture he is sometimes associated with a crow, a motif used to symbolize cunning and nonconformity. He died in 1481; his writings and legends continue to be studied by Zen practitioners and scholars seeking to understand Muromachi Zen.