Ryōkan Taigu lived from 1758 to 1831, a span of years that situates him in a period of relative stability in Japan, yet his life unfolded far from the centers of worldly power. These dates mark not only a historical interval but also the arc of a spiritual journey that has continued to resonate through his poetry and example. To contemplate these years is to glimpse a human life devoted to simplicity, contemplative practice, and the quiet radiance of Zen.

Born in Echigo Province, in what is now called Niigata Prefecture, Ryōkan’s earthly passage lasted seventy-two years. Within that finite measure of time, he chose the path of a hermit monk, withdrawing from conventional society to live in humble huts. His days were shaped by Zen practice, by the crafting of poems, and by the brushwork of calligraphy, each activity serving as a vehicle for awakening. The dates 1758 to 1831 thus become more than biographical data; they mark the lifetime of one who sought to embody the Dharma in the most ordinary gestures.

Ryōkan’s commitment to a secluded, austere existence suggests a deliberate turning away from the distractions of his age toward a more intimate encounter with the nature of mind. His poetry and calligraphy, arising from this hermit’s life, can be seen as the natural outflow of a heart steeped in silence and attention. To reflect on the period from 1758 to 1831 is therefore to reflect on how a single human life, lived quietly on the margins, can become a timeless testament to the Zen ideal of simplicity, presence, and compassionate awareness.