Rōgen Tenshin Zenji, Taihō Enkan Kokushi

Place: Yamashiro Province

Born: 1529

Death: 1611

Biography:

Shun'oku Soen was a 14th century Rinzai Zen monk born in Yamashiro Province, Japan in 1529. He became a monk at an early age and trained under various masters before becoming the 111th Head Priest of Daitoku-ji temple in 1569. He received the title Zen Master Rōgen Tenshin from Emperor Ōgimachi in 1586 and the highest acclaim of National Teacher Taihō Enkan from Emperor Go-Yōzei in 1600. He was known for his association with numerous tea masters including Sen no Rikyū, Furuta Oribe, Ueda Sōko, Kobori Enshū, Sen Dōan, Sen Sōtan, Yabunouchi Jōchi, and Imai Sōkyū. He died in 1611.