Gyōson


Gyōson, also known as the Abbot of Byōdō-in, was a Japanese Tendai monk and waka poet of the late-Heian period. He became chief prelate of the Enryaku-ji temple in Kyoto, and one of his poems was included in the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu. Almost fifty of his poems were included in imperial anthologies, and he produced a private collection of poetry.

Biography

Gyōson was born in 1055 or 1057, the son of Minamoto no Motohira.
At age twelve, he entered Mii-dera, eventually becoming its Abbot, and practiced the Shugendō austerities of the yamabushi for many years and made pilgrimages to various provinces. At age 25, he received the abhisheka from Raigō.
Later, in 1123, he rose to become Superior General of Enryaku-ji — the highest prelate of Tendai Buddhism. He also served as Grand Almoner to emperors Shirakawa and Toba.
He was known as the Abbot of Byōdō-in.
He died on 21 March 1135.

Poetry

Forty-eight of his poems were included in imperial anthologies from the Kin'yō Wakashū on.
The following poem by him was included as No. 66 in Fujiwara no Teika's Ogura Hyakunin Isshu:
His poetry records his experiences on pilgrimage, and was in later ages celebrated as a spiritual precursor to the works of Saigyō.
He also left a private collection, the Gyōson Daisōjō-shū.

Other arts

In addition to his poetry, he was also known as a skilled biwa performer and calligrapher.

In later literature

As a high-ranking monk of noble birth, he appeared in many later setsuwa tales of the reigen-dan genre.