Born in Fujian, Ming China.
He became a monk at Wanfu-si on Mount Huangbo near his home.
He became abbot of Wanfu-si and grew famous as a Zen master.
Invited by a Chinese temple in Nagasaki, he came to Japan with his disciples.
In Edo he met the fourth shogun, Tokugawa Ietsuna.
Granted land by the shogunate, he founded Ōbaku-san Manpuku-ji at Uji near Kyoto and spread the Ōbaku school of Zen.
Around this time he also introduced Ming calligraphy, architecture and fucha vegetarian cuisine; one theory holds that he brought the green bean called ingen.
After receiving the title of National Teacher from the emperor, he died at Manpuku-ji.
Kasuga no TsuboneKobori EnshūHayashi RazanMiyamoto MusashiMatsudaira NobutsunaSenhimeTokugawa IemitsuNakae Tōju
People of the Edo period ・ People by period
Based on facts found in textbooks and biographies. Uncertain points are marked as such.