In this issue we introduce you to Ikkyu-san (一休(いっきゅう)宗純(そうじゅん) 1394-1481), one of the most popular and well-loved Zen Buddhist monks in Japan. Thanks to a popular animated TV series, to Japanese children the young 一休(いっきゅう)さん is a folk hero, mischievous and always out-smarting his teachers and even the Shogun.一休(いっきゅう)さん was also an accomplished poet and calligrapher, and a rebel monk who relentlessly attacked the hypocrisy of the then corrupt Zen establishment. He entered the monastery at an early age, where he was recognised as a highly gifted pupil. After leaving the monastery he continued to practise Zen while living the life of the common people: eating meat, drinking sake, and having relations with women. He did this openly, criticising 'hypocritical monks' who did the same but put on a facade of religiosity, and arguing that the common life lived in the moment was a true way to enlightenment. The wit of 一休(いっきゅう)さん was legendary and he is the subject of many とんち話(ばなし) (witty stories). These stories flourished during the Edo Period, about 200 years after his death. Some were confused with stories of other monks and some were invented, but they all reflect Ikkyu-san's wit and humanity.

The manga which follows introduces one famous とんち話(ばなし), in which the young 一休(いっきゅう)さん outwits the greedy おしょうさん (head priest of the temple). This story is also the subject of a famous Kyogen (狂言(きょうげん)) play (a farce presented between Noh plays), called 'Busu'(附子(ぶす)).