Shimizu Kosho
Japanese, 1911 - 1999
Person TypeIndividual
Indonesian, approx. 1862-1978
BiographyShimizu Kosho was born Shimizu Mutsuji in Shikama-gun, Hyogo prefecture in 1911 and became a Kegon school monk, entering the Todaiji monastery in 1927. In 1975, he became the 207th and 208th generation chief abbot (betto) of Todai-ji temple in Nara and the head (kancho) of the Kegon school of Buddhism in Japan, serving until 1981. During his tenure, he conducted the great Showa conservation of the temple complex. He then became Dean (Choro) of todai-ji until his death in 1999. He was noted for his original and innovative calligraphy, paintings, and ceramics.