Soyen Shaku

Soyen Shaku
釈 宗演
TitleZen Master
Personal
BornJanuary 10, 1860
DiedOctober 29, 1919 (1919-10-30) (aged 59)
ReligionZen Buddhism
NationalityJapanese
SchoolRinzai
Senior posting
PredecessorImakita Kōsen
SuccessorTetsuo Sōkatsu

Soyen Shaku (釈 宗演, January 10, 1860 – October 29, 1919; written in modern Japanese Shaku Sōen or Kōgaku Shaku Sōen) was the first Zen Buddhist master to teach in the United States. He was a rōshi of the Rinzai school and was abbot of both Kenchō-ji and Engaku-ji temples in Kamakura, Japan. Soyen was a disciple of Imakita Kosen.