Horin Josho (鳳林承章)
Josho HORIN (1593 - 1668) was a Zen priest who lived in the era from the Azuchi-Momoyama period to the Edo period.
His personal history
He was the sixth son of Haretoyo KAJUJI who assumed the post of Jun-daijin (Vice Minister).
His mother was a daughter of Ariyasu TSUCHIMIKADO who assumed the post of Gyobukyo (Minister of Justice) as well as that of Onmyo no kami (Director of Onmyoryo, or Bureau of Divination)
Mitsutoyo KAJUJI, who assumed the post of Gon Dainagon (provisional major counselor), Tsuneto KANROJI, who assumed the post of Kurodo no to (Head Chamberlain), Toshimasa BOJO who assumed the post of Sangi (councilor), Okiyasu ABE, who assumed the post of Ukyo no suke (Assistant Master of the Western Capital Offices), were his brothers.
Becoming a Zen priest, he became the chief priest of Kitayama Rokuon-ji Temple (Kinkaku-ji Temple). In 1625, he entered Mannen-zan Sokoku-ji Temple, and became its 95th chief priest.
When the Retired Emperor Gomizunoo became a priest, he played the role of baishi (a priest who chanted Buddhist liturgical chant), and had an intimate relationship with the retired emperor thereafter as well.
He wrote 'Kakumeiki' that provides important documents not only about Kyoto culture in the early Edo period but also political and economical situations in that period as well.