Image: Wikimedia Commons

Eisai

Japanese monk

PersonDied aged 73humanQ366128

Also known as Myoan Eisai · Minnan Eisai, 1141-1215 · Myōan Yōsai, 1141-1215 · Myōan Saikō, Zenji, 1141-1215 · Eisai, Zenji, 1141-1215 · Yōsai, 1141-1215

Born: December 15, 1141
1
Sources
1.Stated in National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority FileRetrieved 2023-06-01
View statement on Wikidata ↗
Died: August 1, 1215
Birthplace: Kaya district
Place of death: Kennin-ji Temple
Citizenship: Japan
Occupation: Buddhist monk
Languages spoken, written or signed: Japanese
1
Sources
1.Stated in BnF authoritiesRetrieved 2015-10-10
View statement on Wikidata ↗
Notable work: A Treatise on Letting Zen Flourish to Protect the State

Overview

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia · Read full article · Text CC BY-SA 4.0

Myōan Eisai or Yōsai was a Japanese Buddhist priest, credited with founding the Rinzai school, the Japanese line of the Linji school of Zen Buddhism. In 1191, he introduced this Zen approach to Japan, following his trip to China from 1187 to 1191, during which he was initiated into the Linji school by the master Hsü an. It is also said that he popularized green tea in Japan, following this same trip. He was also the founding abbot of Shōfuku-ji and Kennin-ji, two of the earliest Zen temples in Japan. He is often known simply as Eisai/Yōsai Zenji (栄西禅師), literally "Zen master Eisai".

Overview

Author of

2 linked to Eisai in Wikidata

Founded

6 linked to Eisai in Wikidata

All data

62 statements · 24% with external sources · numbers in brackets are citations

Name in native language: 栄西
Religion or worldview: Tendai
Rinzai school
Sex or gender: male
2
Sources
1.Stated in Virtual International Authority FileRetrieved 2018-11-04
2.Stated in BnF authoritiesRetrieved 2015-10-10
View statement on Wikidata ↗
Work location: Osaka
1
Sources
1.hdl.handle.net/20.500.11840/694710Retrieved 2020-02-28
View statement on Wikidata ↗
Student of: Shi Huaichang
Posthumous name: 千光国師 script: shinjitai
Place of burial: Kennin-ji Temple
1
Sources
1.kenninji.jp/grounds/
View statement on Wikidata ↗
Ethnic group: Japanese people
Native language: Japanese
Writing language: Japanese
Courtesy name: 明菴 script: shinjitai
Student: Taikō Gyōyū
Shakuen Eichō
Name in kana: えいさい
1
Sources
1.Stated in Japan SearchRetrieved 2021-03-20
View statement on Wikidata ↗
Commons Creator page: Eisai

On other databases

36 identifiers linking Eisai across the web's reference databases

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statements

24%

externally sourced

Source last edited October 6, 2026. AIDB refreshes this page daily.

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AIDB. (2026). Eisai (Q366128). Retrieved from https://aidb.si/e/eisai-Q366128