Hakuin Ekaku
Source: Wikipedia: Hakuin Ekaku
Religious Figures & Theologians • Historical Archive • 🇯🇵 Edo Period • 2 views

Hakuin Ekaku 🇯🇵

白隠慧鶴 (Known as "Master Hakuin")
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Born Jan 19, 1686 🇯🇵 Hara (Suruga), Edo Period
Passed Away Jan 18, 1769 Shoin-ji, Edo Period
Lifespan 82 years old
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Notice / Correction
"At this moment, what more is there to seek? Nirvana is right before our eyes; this place could be none other than the Lotus Land, and this body could be none other than the Buddha."

Archival Overview

Great reformer of Japanese Rinzai Zen, painter, and calligrapher who systematized koan study and created the legendary riddle 'What is the sound of one hand clapping?'.

Biographical Record

Hakuin Ekaku (1686–1769 CE) revitalized a decaying Rinzai Zen tradition during the Edo period, turning Shoin-ji temple into a buzzing spiritual forge.

He emphasized intense zazen meditation to cure spiritual exhaustion (zen sickness), designed the famous 'sound of one hand' koan, and painted bold, humorous brushwork to teach lay commoners.

Key Life Milestones

1715

Creation of the 'One Hand Clapping' Koan

Devised the koan 'Two hands clap and there is a sound; what is the sound of one hand?', bypassing intellectual logic.

1750

The Song of Zazen (Zazen Wasan)

Composed his beloved 'Song of Zazen', sung in Rinzai temples throughout the world to this day.

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Final Resting Place

Perpetual Memorial
Shoin-ji Temple
Numazu (Shizuoka), Japan
GPS: 35.1256, 138.7189
View on Memory Atlas
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