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太原雪斎 / 太原崇孚 Taigen Sessai / Taigen Sūfu (1495-1555)

Portrait painted by Hakuin Ekaku
白隠慧鶴自画賛
「太原崇孚（宝珠護国禅師）像」
宝暦 5 （1755) 年　
龍津寺蔵 Ryoshin-ji zen temple

TAIGEN Sofu (or Sufu) Sessai was a priest and a minister of IMAGAWA Yoshimoto. He was born as a son of IHARA Masamori, senior vassal of the Imagawas and is thought to be related to YAMAMOTO Kansuke, strategist of TAKEDA Harunobu (Shingen). He is one of the ministers in clerical robe in Japanese history.

He was formerly called KYUEI Shogiku and educated Hogikumaru, later Yoshimoto. In 1530, Hogikumaru entered the Buddhist Priesthood and was called BAIGAKU (or SENGAKU) Hosho and he changed his name Taigen Sofu Sessai. In 1536, he exerted himself to make Baigaku Hosho take over the Imagawa clan and became to serve him as adviser of military and politics when he became the head.

He achieved various feats using manoeuvers and advantaged his lord by forming alliances with other daimyos. He sometimes participated in battles at the head of an army. On the other hand, he also acted as priest by building Rinzai Temple in Sunpu and committed in making Imagawa Kana Mokuroku, law of the Imagawas. Besides he improved a commercial policy in Suruga.

He died at Chokeiji Temple in 1555 and it shocked Yoshimoto. It is said that if he had lived in 1560, Yoshimoto should have beaten ODA Nobunaga at the Battle of Okehazama.

He is said to have educated MATSUDAIRA Takechiyo, later TOKUGAWA Ieyasu but there is an opposing opinion.

太原崇孚 TAIGEN SOFU
Died on the tenth day of the intercalary month, 1555 at the age of sixty

I raise the mirror of my life
Up to my face: sixty years.
With a swing I smash the reflection—
The world as usual
All in its place.

In: JAPANESE DEATH POEMS
Written by Zen Monks and Haiku Poets on the Verge of Death
compiled with an Introduction and commentary by Yoel Hoffmann
Rutland, Vermont, Charles E. Tuttle Publishing, 1986

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