Ryokan: Zen Monk-Poet of Japan
Ryokan (1758-1831), a Buddhist monk in the Zen sect, was a major figure in Tokugawa poetry. Although a Zen master, he never headed a temple but chose to live alone in simple huts and to support himself by begging. His poems are mainly a record of his daily activities - of chores and outings to gather firewood and edible plants, lonely snow-bound winters, begging expeditions to town, meetings with friends, romps with the village children. At the same time they show us how contented, even joyous, a man could be with a minimum of material possessions, and how rich a spiritual and intellectual life he could enjoy in the midst of poverty.
1000561507
Ryokan: Zen Monk-Poet of Japan
Ryokan (1758-1831), a Buddhist monk in the Zen sect, was a major figure in Tokugawa poetry. Although a Zen master, he never headed a temple but chose to live alone in simple huts and to support himself by begging. His poems are mainly a record of his daily activities - of chores and outings to gather firewood and edible plants, lonely snow-bound winters, begging expeditions to town, meetings with friends, romps with the village children. At the same time they show us how contented, even joyous, a man could be with a minimum of material possessions, and how rich a spiritual and intellectual life he could enjoy in the midst of poverty.
29.0 In Stock
Ryokan: Zen Monk-Poet of Japan

Ryokan: Zen Monk-Poet of Japan

Ryokan: Zen Monk-Poet of Japan

Ryokan: Zen Monk-Poet of Japan

Overview

Ryokan (1758-1831), a Buddhist monk in the Zen sect, was a major figure in Tokugawa poetry. Although a Zen master, he never headed a temple but chose to live alone in simple huts and to support himself by begging. His poems are mainly a record of his daily activities - of chores and outings to gather firewood and edible plants, lonely snow-bound winters, begging expeditions to town, meetings with friends, romps with the village children. At the same time they show us how contented, even joyous, a man could be with a minimum of material possessions, and how rich a spiritual and intellectual life he could enjoy in the midst of poverty.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780231044158
Publisher: Columbia University Press
Publication date: 05/05/1992
Series: Translations from the Asian Classics
Edition description: New Edition
Pages: 126
Product dimensions: 5.38(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.37(d)
Age Range: 18 Years

About the Author

Burton Watson is one of the world's best-known translators from the Chinese and Japanese. His translations include The Lotus Sutra, The Vimalakirti Sutra, Chuang Tzu: Basic Writings, Saigyo: Poems of a Mountain Home, and The Columbia Book of Chinese Poetry: From Early Times to the Thirteenth Century, all published by Columbia.
From the B&N Reads Blog
Page 1 of

Related Subjects

Poetry
Religion
Buddhism
Inspirational & Religious Poetry
Asian Poetry
Buddhist & Zen Poetry
Japanese Poetry
Zen Buddhism
Poetry
Religion
Buddhism
Inspirational & Religious Poetry
Asian Poetry
Buddhist & Zen Poetry
Japanese Poetry
Zen Buddhism

Customer Reviews