Kaisen Joki

Kaisen Joki (快川紹喜, c. January 2, 1500 – April 25, 1582) was a Buddhist priest from the Mino Province.

It is not known if he is related to the Toki clan. Following the rise of power to Saito Yoshitatsu, Joki fled to the Owari Province. From there he the Kai Province. There Joki met Takeda Shingen and Shingen was very impressed by him. Shingen afterwards made Joki the head abbot of the Erin-ji in Kofu.

After the Oda/Tokugawa alliance invaded the territory of the Takeda during the year of 1582, the Irin-ji were accused of sheltering the likes of Rokkaku Yoshiharu (a former enemy of the Oda). This led to all the monks of the Irin-ji being burned to death. It is known that Joki was indeed very calm. Before Joki and his men would have died in the blazing fire, Joki told them to set their minds at ease so that even the fire might be thought of as cool and refreshing.

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