{"product_id":"ry-333-kan-zen-monk-poet-of-japan","title":"Ry\u0026#333;kan: Zen Monk-Poet of Japan","description":"Ryokan (1758-1831), a Buddhist monk in the Zen sect, was a major figure in Tokugawa poetry. Although a Zen master, he never headed a temple but chose to live alone in simple huts and to support himself by begging. His poems are mainly a record of his daily activities - of chores and outings to gather firewood and edible plants, lonely snow-bound winters, begging expeditions to town, meetings with friends, romps with the village children. At the same time they show us how contented, even joyous, a man could be with a minimum of material possessions, and how rich a spiritual and intellectual life he could enjoy in the midst of poverty.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBurton Watson is one of the world's best-known translators from the Chinese and Japanese. His translations include \u003ci\u003eThe Lotus Sutra, The Vimalakirti Sutra, Chuang Tzu: Basic Writings, Saigyo: Poems of a Mountain Home, \u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eThe Columbia Book of Chinese Poetry: From Early Times to the Thirteenth Century, \u003c\/i\u003e all published by Columbi\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Columbia University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50318543356178,"sku":"9780231044158","price":31.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_ad870342-18e6-42d9-90ea-d8e7ca1901fb.jpg?v=1727557044","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/ry-333-kan-zen-monk-poet-of-japan","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}