Page "Eisai" Paragraph 1

Born in Bitchū Province ( modern-day Okayama, Okayama ), Eisai was ordained as a monk in the Tendai sect.

Dissatisfied with the state of Buddhism at the time, in 1168 he set off on his first trip to Mt.

Tiantai in China, the origin of the sect, where he learned of the primacy of the Chan ( later known in Japan as Zen ) school in Chinese Buddhism of the time.

He spent only six months in China on this first trip, but returned in 1187 for a longer stay as a disciple of Xuan Huaichang, a master in the Linji ( Rinzai ) line, at Jing-de-si ( Ching-te-ssu, 景德寺 ) monastery.