Ben’en also Enni Ben’en or Enju Ben’en, also known as Shōichi (Shōitsu) Kokushi, 1202-80); an early Japanese Zen master of the Yōgi lineage of Rinzai (Yōgi school). During a six-year stay in China he received the seal of confirmation (inka-shōmei) from the Chinese Zen master Wu-chun Shih-fan (Jap., Bushun [Mujun] Shiban). After his return to Japan, he made a major contribution toward the establishment of Zen there.
At the age of eight Ben’en began to study the teachings of the Tendai school and later of the Shingon school of Japanese Buddhism. In 1235 he went to China and experienced enlightenment under Master Wu-chun. After the latter had confirmed him, he sought out other Zen masters of the Sung period in order to deepen his experience. In 1241 he returned to Japan and was active as a Zen master in various monasteries. He influenced the practices of the mystical schools of Tendai and Shingon through his style of Zen training.
In 1255 he became the first abbot of the Tōfuku-ji monastery in Kyōto; he also assumed leadership of monasteries like the Jufuku-ji in Kamakura and the Kennin-ji in Kyōto. All three monasteries belong to the gosan of Kyōto or of Kamakura and are among the most important Zen monasteries in Japan. Ben’en had more than thirty dharma successors (hassu). Posthumously he received the honorific titles of Shōichi Kokushi, Kōshō Kokushi, and Jinkō Kokushi (kokushi).
Source: The Encyclopedia of Eastern Philosophy and Religion: Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Zen. Shambhala Publications, Inc.
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