Daichi Sokei (大智祖継) (1290–1366) was a Japanese Sōtō Zen monk famous for his Buddhist poetry who lived during the late Kamakura period and early Muromachi period. According to Steven Heine, a Buddhist studies professor, "Daichi is unique in being considered one of the great medieval Zen poets during an era when Rinzai monks, who were mainly located in Kyoto or Kamakura, clearly dominated the composition of verse."[1]
Biography He was originally a disciple of one of Eihei Dōgen's students Kangan Giin, but after Giin's death he practiced under Keizan Jōkin for seven years. He also traveled to China in 1314 and remained there until 1324; his stay out of Japan was unintentionally extended when he was shipwrecked in Korea on his return journey, preventing him from actually returning until 1325.[2] Upon returning to Japan, he received dharma transmission under Keizan's disciple Meihō Sotetsu.[3] He is considered to be part of the Wanshi-ha poetry movement based on the writing style of the Sōtō monk-poet Hongzhi Zhengjue. While in China, Daichi studied under the poet Gulin Qingmao (Japanese: 古林清茂; rōmaji: Kurin Seimo).[1]