Shunan Joju (終南浄寿)
Joju SHUNAN (1710 - September 14, 1767) was a priest of the baku sect, calligrapher and Tenkoku artist (a carver who carved Chinese characters in the special, Tensho, style) who lived in around the middle of the Edo period.
He was commonly called Kojimauji. His registered name is Joju, but was also called Tennen. He used Shunan or Kaiseki as the title for his profession. He came from Matsuzaka City in Ise.
Summary of his personal history
He was born as the second son of Sokuan KOJIMA. He was a younger brother of Kako ITO and learned calligraphy from this brother. At an age of as young as nine year, he entered Buddhist priesthood at Kannabi-ji Temple in Yamashiro Province, and became the successor of the Genkun NANREI's principle in 1729. Later, he became the chief priest of Jinko-in Temple and that of Shorin-in of Manpuku-ji Temple in the Kyoto City area. Goshin Genmyo was one of his intimate friends and came to Edo together. He was versed in Chinese poems and Chinese classics, and became famous for his calligraphy. He built a hermitage called Kaiseki-an in Okazaki in Rakuto (east of the capital of Kyoto), and had intimate relationships with cultured persons, such as Daiten Kenjo, Genko DAICHO, Kenkado KIMURA and Fuyo KO.
He was 57 years old when he died. His grave is located in Banshoko of Manpuku-ji Temple.
Seal patterns he carved are included in "Sensaienin" and "Shunan Goshin Inpu," both an Inpu (a compilation of seal marks).