Background
Gyōki was born in 668 in Otori into the powerful Koshi family of the district of Otori in Kawachi Province (present-day Semboku-gun of Osaka Prefecture).
Gyōki was born in 668 in Otori into the powerful Koshi family of the district of Otori in Kawachi Province (present-day Semboku-gun of Osaka Prefecture).
he became a monk in 682 and began religious training as a disciple of Gien of the Yakushi-ji. Sometime later—the exact date is uncertain—he left the temple to continue his religious practices in the mountains and countryside, wandering from region to region spreading the teachings of Buddhism among the common people.
The government, disturbed by the results of his activity, in the fourth month of 717 issued an order forbidding Gydki to continue his preaching, an order that was several times repeated during the period until 730. Eventually, however, the court was obliged to recognize the worth of his activities, and in 731 he was given official permission to preach the faith. When the court, implementing the plans of Emperor Shomu, began construction of a giant Buddha image, the Great Buddha of Todai-ji, Gyoki and his disciples gave their full cooperation, going about among the common people to gather contributions and helping to bring the project to a successful conclusion. In 745, in recognition of his achievements, he was given the highest rank possible to a Buddhist monk.
After his death on the second day of the second month of 749, his body was cremated and the ashes placed in a bronze container inscribed with the story of his life, which was buried in the grounds of the Chikurin-ji in Yamato Province. Fragments of the container are still preserved today.