Gempō Yamamoto

Gempō Yamamoto
Gempō Yamamoto in 1923
Title	Roshi
Personal
Born	1866 Wakayama, Japan
Died	1961
Religion	Zen Buddhism
Nationality	Japanese
School	Rinzai
Senior posting
Successor	Nakagawa Soen, Nakajima Genjo

Gempō Yamamoto (山本玄峰, Yamamoto Genpō, 1866-1961) was the abbot of both Ryūtaku-ji and Shoin-ji in Japan—also serving temporarily as the head of the Myōshin-ji branch of Rinzai Zen Buddhism.

Biography

A renowned Japanese calligrapher, Yamamoto was a Rinzai Zen Buddhist priest who followed in the footsteps of the famous Master Hakuin Ekaku. According to the book Zen and the Art of Calligraphy, Yamamoto is sometimes called the "twentieth century Hakuin." Like so many prolific Zen masters throughout the ages, Yamamoto had no formal education. By today's standards Gempō would be deemed legally blind, and it was not until later in life that he was able to write and read. At the age of 25 he became ordained as a monk, travelling during this period to various temples throughout Japan. Yamamoto is probably most remembered for his many zenga paintings, which can be found hanging at Ryūtaku-ji today.

He also produced a number of Inuyama ware.

In 1934, he testified in favor of his disciple Nissho Inoue, a militant Nichirenist preacher, during the trial for the League of Blood assassinations. He remained close to Inoue until Inoue's death in 1961.

Bibliography

• Gempō Yamamoto, 慧開, Ekaku (1962).Mumonkan teishō: fu, Hakuin Zenji rōhachi jishū teishō. Daihōrinkaku.

See also

• Buddhism in Japan

References

• Brooks, Jeffrey M. (2002). The Rhinoceros Tale. Writer's Showcase Press. ISBN 0-595-24836-5.
• Furuya, Kensho (1996). Kodo Ancient Ways: Lessons in the Spiritual Life of the Warrior/Martial Artist. Black Belt Communications. ISBN 0-89750-136-5.
• Nordstrom, Louis ed. (1976). Namu Dai Bosa. Theatre Arts Books. LCCN 7611286
• Shimano, Eido (1979). Golden wind: Zen talks. Japan Publications. ISBN 0-87040-449-0.
• Tanahashi, Kazuaki (Ed.). Chayat, Roko Sherry (Ed.). Endless Vow: The Zen Path of Soen Nakagawa. Boston: Shambhala Publications, Inc., 1996. ISBN 1-57062-162-4.
• Terayama, Katsujō; John Stevens; Omori Sogen (1983). Zen and the Art of Calligraphy: The Essence of Sho. Routledge & Kegan Paul. ISBN 0-7100-9284-9. OCLC 8670132.
• Victoria, Daizen (2003). Zen War Stories. Routledge. ISBN 0-7007-1580-0. OCLC 50518582.