Kougetsu Sogan

A Zen monk in the early Edo period. Born in Sakai (Osaka). His given name was Sogan and his pen name was Kogetsu. He was the son of Tsuda Sokyu, a famous tea master. He entered Daitoku-ji Temple in Kyoto at the age of nine. He then transferred to Nanshuji Temple in Sakai. He became the second abbot of Murasakino's Ryuko-in Temple, succeeding his teacher Shun'oku Soen (1529-1611). He also served as the 156th abbot of Daitoku-ji Temple, the 79th abbot of Chikuzen Sofuku-ji Temple, and the 13th abbot of Nanshuji Temple. He went to Hirado at the invitation of Matsuura Hizen no Kami Takanobu to spread the teachings, but in his later years he returned to Kyoto and passed away at the age of 70 at Ryuko-in Temple. He was known to have had friendly relations with leading cultural figures of the time, such as Enshu Kobori and Shokado Shojo. He was also skilled in the tea ceremony, calligraphy, and painting, and his calligraphy in particular has been highly respected by tea masters in later generations.

[Hiroyuki Shimatani July 19, 2017]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

江戸初期の禅僧。堺(さかい)（大阪）の人。諱(いみな)は宗玩、字(あざな)は江月。茶人として有名な津田宗及(つだそうきゅう)の子。9歳で京都大徳寺に入った。ついで堺の南宗寺に転じた。師春屋宗園(しゅんおくそうえん)（1529―1611）の後を受けて紫野(むらさきの)竜光院の第2世となった。また、大徳寺第156世、筑前(ちくぜん)崇福寺第79世、南宗寺第13世を継いだ。さらに布教のため、松浦肥前守隆信(まつらひぜんのかみたかのぶ)の招きで平戸(ひらど)に下ったが、晩年は京に戻り、竜光院において70歳で示寂した。小堀遠州、松花堂昭乗(しょうかどうしょうじょう)ら当代一流の文化人との親交が知られる。また茶道、書画に堪能(たんのう)で、ことに書は後世茶人に大いに尊重されている。

［島谷弘幸　2017年7月19日］

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