[FN#86] A bold statesman and soldier, who was the real ruler of Japan 1264-1283.

This reminds us of Sang Chao[FN#87] (So-jo), who, on the verge of death by the vagabond’s sword, expressed his feelings in the follow lines: 

“In body there exists no soul. 
The mind is not real at all. 
Now try on me thy flashing steel,
As if it cuts the wind of Spring, I feel.”

[FN#87] The man was not a pure Zen master, being a disciple of Kumarajiva, the founder of the San Ron Sect.  This is a most remarkable evidence that Zen, especially the Rin Zan school, was influenced by Kumarajiva and his disciples.  For the details of the anecdote, see E-gen.

The barbarians, moved by this calm resolution and dignified air of Tsu Yuen, rightly supposed him to be no ordinary personage, and left the monastery, doing no harm to him.

9.  Zen and the Regent Generals of the Ho-Jo Period.

No wonder, then, that the representatives of the Samurai class, the Regent Generals, especially such able rulers as Toki-yori, Toki-mune, and others noted for their good administration, of the Ho-jo period (1205-1332) greatly favoured Zen.  They not only patronized the faith, building great temples[FN#88] and inviting best Chinese Zen teachers[FN#89] but also lived just as Zen monks, having the head shaven, wearing a holy robe, and practising cross-legged Meditation.

[FN#88] To-fuku-ji, the head temple of a sub-sect of the Rin Zai under the same name, was built in 1243.  Ken-cho-ji, the head temple of a subsect of the Rin Zai under the same name, was built in 1253.  En-gaku ji, the head temple of a sub-sect of the Rin Zai under the same name, was built in 1282.  Nan-zen-ji, the head temple of a sub-sect of the Rin Zai under the same name, was erected in 1326.

[FN#89] Tao Lung (Do-ryu), known as Dai-kaku Zen-ji, invited by Tokiyori, came over to Japan in 1246.  He became the founder of Ken-cho-ji-ha, a sub-sect of the Rin Zai, and died in 1278.  Of his disciples, Yaku-o was most noted, and Yaku-o’s disciple, Jaku-shitsu, became the founder of Yo-genji-ha, another sub-sect of the Rin Zai.  Tsu Yuen (So-gen), known as Buk-ko-koku-shi, invited by Toki-mune, crossed the sea in 1280, became the founder of En-gaku-ji-ha (a sub-sect of the Rin Zai), and died in 1286.  Tsing Choh (Sei-setsu), invited by Taka-toki, came in 1327, and died in 1339.  Chu Tsun (So-shun) came in 1331, and died in 1336.  Fan Sien (Bon-sen) came together with Chu Tsun, and died in 1348.  These were the prominent Chinese teachers of that time.

Toki-yori (1247-1263), for instance, who entered the monastic life while be was still the real governor of the country, led as simple a life, as is shown in his verse, which ran as follows: 

“Higher than its bank the rivulet flows;
Greener than moss tiny grass grows. 
No one call at my humble cottage on the rock,
But the gate by itself opens to the Wind’s knock.”