14 Facts About Eisai

Eisai was the founding abbot of Japan's first Zen temple Shofuku-ji and Kennin-ji.

Eisai spent only six months in China on this first trip, but returned in 1187 for a longer stay as a disciple of Xuan Huaichang, a master in the Linji line, at Jingde Si monastery.

Eisai immediately founded the Shofuku-ji in Kyushu, Japan's first Zen temple.

Eisai set about slowly propagating the new faith, trying to gain the respect of both the Tendai school and the Imperial court through careful diplomacy.

Eisai founded Kennin-ji in Kyoto in 1202 on land gifted to him by Yoritomo's son, the second Kamakura shogun Minamoto no Yoriie.

Eisai died in 1215 at the age of 74, and is buried in Kennin-ji's temple grounds.

Eisai never renounced his status as a Tendai monk, and until the end of his life continued to engage in Tendai esoteric practices.

Eisai was more focused on the medicinal aspects than anything else, and the main reason for this was the common conception of the time that the world was in mappo, the Latter age of the Dharma, which was considered by many to be a time of decline.

Eisai lived through an era of heavy fighting in Japan, so mappo played a big role in his promotion of tea, as he thought it was a cure for many ailments and hence would help people get through this perceived difficult time.

Eisai claimed that the standard Japanese fare of the time contained abundant amounts of each, except for the bitter flavor, which was the cause of the many heart diseases the Japanese suffered from.

Eisai asserted that his green tea was essential for providing the bitter flavor, and thereby keeping the heart healthy.

Eisai was a firm believer that it should be Zen Buddhism to aid the protection of the country.

Eisai identified previously established schools of Buddhism as responsible for contributing to Japan's struggles.

Eisai's writing depends heavily on the idea that Buddhism is critical for a functioning society.