Letter from Priest Gottan Funei (Addressed to Priest Tōgan Ean in 1270)

Wuan Puning (J. Gottan Funei; 1197–1276) was a prominent Chan priest of the Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279). After receiving an invitation to Japan, he traveled from China and stayed for six years. Here we find a letter sent once he had returned to China that is addressed to the disciple he took on during his time in this country, Tōgan Ean (1225–1227). The letter is written on exquisite paper imprinted with the design of a lotus pond. {br=>[[]], content=>[This letter was written by Priest Gottan Funei (Wuan Puning, 1197-1276) to Priest Tōgan E'an of Shōden-ji temple at Kamo, Kyoto. in 1270 after Funei had returned to China. The letter paper bears a waxed decoration of a lotus pond. In the letter, Priest Gottan Funei thanked Priest Keian for his letter, which was handed to Funei by Priest Hongaku (Keian's disciple) on a visit to Sōrin-ji temple in 1268. Funei told about his recent situation and added that he was writing this letter to Keian at the time when Hongaku was returning to Japan. Funei was sending his best regards to his friends in Japan including Nijō Yoshizane, which implies that he had been keeping contact with his Japanese friends even after he returned to China., Priest Gottan Funei was the successor of Priest Mujun Shihan (Wuzhun Shifan). Funei came to Japan in 1260 and was staying in Kenchō-ji temple on the request of Regent Hōjō Tokiyori. But after Tokiyori's death, Funei could not find any other patron and returned to China in 1265. This letter, which is a report on the life of Priest Gottan Funei after his return to China, is a significant document in the history of the exchange of Zen priests between Japan and China.]} {br=>[[], []], content=>[After returning to China, the Chan (J.

Zen) master Wuan Puning (J. Gottan Funei; 1197–1276) sent this letter to his Japanese disciple Tōgan Ean (1225–1277) at Shōdenji Temple in Kamo, Kyoto, in the 2nd month of Xianchun 6 (1270)., The paper is embossed with a lotus pond design. Wuan states his appreciation for having received a letter from Tōgan Ean that had been delivered by the Zen priest Hongaku (dates unknown; Tōgan Ean’s disciple) who had visited Shuanglinsi Temple in Wuzhou (now Zhejiang Province) in 1268, the Earth Dragon year according to the Chinese zodiac. He goes on to describe his present situation and says he has written the letter to coincide with Hongaku’s return to Japan. Wuan Puning also says that he would like to express his congratulations to his old acquaintances including Nijō Yoshizane (1216–1270) and Hōjō Tokisuke (1248–1272), notably indicating he was friends with them., Wuan Puning studied under the Chan master Wuzhun Shifan (1178 –1249). He came to Japan in Bun’ō 1 (1260) and b ecame abbot of Kenchōji Temple at the request of Hōjō Tokiyori (1227–1263). After Tokiyori’s death, however, he had difficulty securing support and returned home in Bun’ei 2 (1265). This letter not only preserves a record of Wuan Puning’s activities after returning to China in his own handwriting, but also offers valuable insights into exchanges between Zen temples in Japan and Chan temples in China.]}

— Museum description: Nara National Museum (CC BY 4.0), via ColBase / Japan Search.