Takuan Sōhō

Takuan Sōhō
Portrait of Takuan Sōhō, by Kimura Tokuō, 17th century
TitleRōshi
Personal life
Born(1573-12-24)24 December 1573
Died27 January 1645(1645-01-27) (aged 71)
Edo, Japan
NationalityJapanese
Religious life
ReligionBuddhism
SchoolRinzai

Takuan Sōhō (沢庵 宗彭; December 24, 1573 January 27, 1645) was a Japanese Buddhist prelate during the Sengoku and early Edo Periods of Japanese history. He was a major figure in the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism. Noted for his calligraphy, poetry, tea ceremony, he is also popularly credited with the invention of the takuan pickled radish.