Kozan Ikkyo

JAPAN, Saga; Kamakura to Nanbokucho period

Kozan Ikkyo was a monk of the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism between the Kamakura (1185–1333) and Nanbokucho (1336–1392) periods. A native of Hizen (present day Saga), he renounced under Zozan Junku at Takagiji Temple in Saga. In Hakata (present day Nagasaki), he obtained the Dharma name Mutyu from Chan Master Xijian Zitan, a visiting Chinese monk.
He traveled to Kyoto and visited various eminent monks, such as Mui Shogen and Nanzan Shiun. Kozan eventually assumed the position of abbot at Tofukuji Temple in Kyoto, and later, Tenryuji Temple in Kyoto. He passed away at the age of 77 upon composing a verse reading, “I came empty-handed and will leave barefooted.” An influential and eminent monk of his time, his most well-known disciple was monk Daido Ichii.
The Sutra Announcement Board, kept at Tofukuji Temple in Kyoto, is attributed to Kozan. The work is composed of two pieces of sutra boards, featuring square and powerful characters, which are hung in the Buddha hall. The two boards measure 2,000 cm wide and approximately 53.7 cm high.