Eisai (or Yōsai) (1141–1215)

Japanese Buddhist monk who introduced Zen from China to Japan and founded the Rinzai school. He popularized the use of tea in Japan.

Eisai trained as a Tendai monk and visited China twice, receiving the Rinzai transmission on his second visit 1189–91. He also brought back tea seeds, but was not the first to do so. On his return, he founded in Kyushu the first Rinzai temple, and later the Kennin temple in Kyoto 1202.

His works include Kōzen gokokuron/Propagation of Zen for the Protection of the Nation 1198 and Kissa yōjōki/Drink Tea and Prolong Life 1214.