Mugaku Sogen, known as Bukko Kokushi was a prominent Zen Buddhist monk of the 13th century in Japan, an emigre from Song dynasty China.
13 Facts About Mugaku Sogen
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Mugaku Sogen was adviser to Japan's most powerful ruler of the day, the regent of the shogun Hojo Tokimune.
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Mugaku Sogen founded the Zen temple Engaku-ji in Kamakura, one of Japan's five most important Zen temples.
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Mugaku Sogen was born in 1226 in Southern Song and became a priest at age 11.
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Mugaku Sogen entered the priesthood at Ching-tz'u-ssu temple when he was just 13 years old, and soon afterward, in 1239, he visited Wu-chun Shih-fan, under whom he studied the Zen teachings.
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In 1282, when Hojo Tokimune built Engaku-ji temple in Kamakura, he invited Sogen to be the founding priest.
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Two years later, Mugaku Sogen returned to Kencho-ji temple where he died.
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Mugaku Sogen exerted great spiritual influence on the leaders and warriors of Kamakura.
9.
The soldier could not bring himself to kill Mugaku Sogen, and expressed his respect for him, then turned and left Mugaku Sogen in peace.
10.
Mugaku Sogen became responsible for leading the resistance to the Mongol invaders.
11.
Mugaku Sogen built an army with the support of other samurai, regulated internal conditions under his military control, and formed stone bulwarks to keep out the enemy.
12.
One day during their ongoing conversations, Mugaku Sogen Shogen took up his pen and wrote one word for Tokimune: Baku-bon-no.
13.
Mugaku Sogen later went on to lead the Japanese to victory.