Ikkyu Sojun’s reputation as a monk was marked by a striking duality, shaped directly by his unconventional conduct. His open frequenting of brothels and drinking establishments, his romantic involvement, and his deliberately provocative, often erotic poetry were seen by many as flagrant violations of monastic decorum. Conservative Buddhist authorities and institutional circles regarded such behavior as scandalous and even heretical, calling into question his legitimacy as a monk and as a potential leader within the formal hierarchy. His public criticism of corrupt monastic practices and institutional Buddhism further alienated him from the orthodox establishment, which often responded with mistrust and exclusion. For a significant portion of his life, this led to marginalization within official Zen structures and a damaged standing in more conventional Buddhist communities.

Yet the very actions that shocked the establishment also became the source of a different, more paradoxical kind of esteem. By refusing to hide human desire and by integrating worldly experiences—love, sexuality, drink, and artistic expression—into his spiritual life, Ikkyu came to be viewed by many as an authentic embodiment of Zen principles rather than a mere conformist to religious formalism. His iconoclastic stance, including his attacks on hypocrisy and corruption, allowed some to see him as a reformer and a “holy fool” whose apparent transgressions revealed deeper wisdom. In this light, his poetry and conduct were interpreted as expressions of profound spiritual insight, demonstrating that enlightenment need not be confined to cloisters or rigid moral categories. Over time, this gave him a powerful reputation among laypeople, artists, intellectuals, and certain monks, who revered him as an eccentric yet deeply realized master. His unconventional path thus undermined his status as a conventional career monk, while simultaneously strengthening his image as a radical and authentic Zen figure whose spiritual authority was, for many, all the more credible because it was so unvarnished.