Background
Joshu Shunso was born in 1751 in Japan. There is no exact information about his childhood or family.
- Photos
- Works
- Photos
- Works
painting
Enso
Reclining Daruma
Attributes of Kanzan & Jittoku
Daruma
Hotei
Shrimp
Joshu Shunso
Edit ProfileEducation
Joshu studied with many of the notable Zen teachers of his day, including Ranzan and Reigen. Later, he studied under Hakuin's pupil Suio for several years.
Career
Shunso Joshu was ordained at the age of eleven by the chief priest of Jizo-ji in his hometown of Oita on the island of Kyushu. When Shunso was seventeen, he embarked on a long journey with the intention of visiting and learning from a variety of skilled Zen masters. He consequently collaborated with many of the illustrious Zen teachers of his day, including Ranzan and Reigen. Later, he learned from Hakuin's disciple Suio for several years, eventually becoming his dharma heir.
At the age of thirty-five, Shunso was invited to become the ninth abbot of Jiko-ji. When he was sixty-three years old, the Emperor requested that Shunso head the prestigious temple of Myoshin-ji. That same year, Shunso was awarded the purple robes — one of the highest acknowledgements in the world of Japanese Zen Buddhism. For the remainder of his eighty-nine years, Shunso was an active and prominent Zen master in Kyoto. Shunso's brushwork is strong and powerful and shows something of the influence of his teacher, Suio. The artist died in 1839 in Japan. Shunso is featured in "The Art of Zen" by Stephen Addiss.
