Childhood Ikkyū was born in 1394 in a small suburb of
Kyoto. It is generally held that he was the son of
Emperor Go-Komatsu and a low-ranking court noblewoman. The temple masters taught Chinese culture and language as part of the curriculum, a method termed . He was given the name Shuken, and learned about
Chinese poetry, art and literature.
Training and enlightenment When Ikkyū turned thirteen he entered
Kennin-ji in Kyoto to study Zen under a well known priest by the name of
Botetsu. Here Ikkyū began to write poetry frequently that was non-traditional in form. He was openly critical of Kennin-ji's leadership in his poetry, disheartened with the social stratum and lack of practice he saw around him. In 1410, at the age of sixteen, Ikkyū left Kennin-ji and entered the temple
Mibu-dera, where an abbot named Seiso was in residence. He did not stay long, and soon found himself at
Saikin-ji in the
Lake Biwa region where he was the sole student of an abbot named Ken'o. It seemed Ikkyū had finally found a master that taught true as Ikkyū saw it. Ken'o was sporadic in his teaching style and was a strong believer in the supremacy of . In 1414, when Ikkyū was 21, Ken'o died. Ikkyū performed funeral rites and fasted for seven days. In despair Ikkyū tried to
kill himself by drowning himself in Lake Biwa, but was talked out of it from the shore by a servant of his mother. Ikkyū soon found a new teacher in a master named Kaso at
Zenko-an, a branch temple of
Daitoku-ji. Kaso was much like Ken'o in his style. For years he worked hard on assigned and made dolls for a local merchant in Kyoto. In 1418 Ikkyū was given Case 15 of the ("The Gateless Gate", a famous set of 49 ), known as "Tozan's Three (or 60?) Blows", which depicts Tozan becoming enlightened when Ummon rebukes him for wandering from one monastery to another. One day a band of blind singers performed at the temple and Ikkyū penetrated his while engrossed in the music. In recognition of his understanding Kaso gave Shuken the
Dharma name Ikkyū, which roughly means 'One Pause'. In 1420, Ikkyū was meditating in a boat on Lake Biwa when the sound of a crow sparked . When Ikkyū told Kasō of his experience, Kasō replied, "This is the enlightenment of a mere
arhat, you're no master yet." Ikkyū responded, "Then I'm happy to be an arhat, I detest masters." Thus, Kasō declared, "Ha, now you really are a master." Kasō confirmed Ikkyū's great enlightenment and granted him . However, when presented with his
inka, Ikkyū threw it to the ground and stomped off. Kasō retained the inka for safekeeping, but when Ikkyū learned of this, he tore it to pieces. Later, when his disciples had it pieced back together, Ikkyū burned it completely. Ikkyū came up against the jealousy of Yoso, a more senior student who eventually came to run the monastery. In Ikkyū's poems, Yoso appears as a character unhealthily obsessed with material goods, who sold Zen to increase the prosperity of the temple.
Vagabond Ikkyū could sometimes be a troublemaker. Known to drink in excess, he would often upset Kaso with his remarks and actions to guests. In response, Kaso gave to Yoso and made him Dharma heir. Ikkyū quickly left the temple and lived many years as a
vagabond. He was not alone, however, as he had a regular circle of notable artists and poets from that era. Around this time, he established a sexual relationship with a blind singer, Mori, who became the love of his later life. Ikkyū strove to live Zen outside of formal religious institutions. However, the
Ōnin War had reduced Daitokuji to ashes, and Ikkyū was elected to be its
abbot late in life, a role he reluctantly took on. This firmly placed him at the head of one of the most important Zen institutions. However, Ikkyū refused to give formal sanction to any of his disciples, stating his intent thus: "I have never given inka to anyone. ... So if after I'm gone, someone comes claiming to have my inka, you should report him to the authorities and prosecute for criminal misconduct. That's why I'm telling everyone the facts by way of a written testament." Toward the end of his life, Ikkyū told his disciples: After my death some of you will seclude yourselves in the forests and mountains to meditate, while others may drink saké and enjoy the company of women. Both kinds of Zen are fine, but if some become professional clerics, babbling about 'Zen as the way,' they are my enemies. I have never given an inka, and if anyone claims to have received such a thing from me, have him or her arrested! In 1481, Ikkyū died at the age of 87 from acute
ague. ==Sex as a form of Zen practice==