Who was Takuan Soho? Takuan Soho lived from 1573 until 1645. Takuan Soho was a Zen monk. While he knew several of the most famous samurai warriors, and gave them great advice, he himself did not engage in the martial arts, he only occupied himself in Zen meditation called Zazen) as well as participating in his artistic activities, such as: calligrapher, painter, poet, gardener (bonsai), and tea master. Definitely he was an artist. His writings were prodigious, filling six volumes, and are a source of guidance and inspiration to the Japanese people today as they have been for three and a half centuries. He moved freely throughout the society of his time being advisor and confidant to both shogun and emperor.
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