early life and spiritual pursuits shōjō shōkadō, a prominent figure in japan's edo period, was born in 1584 in the yamato province. his life took a significant turn when he entered the hachiman shrine on otoko-yama (yawata) near kyoto, where he received his buddhist name, shōjō. this marked the beginning of his spiritual journey as a buddhist monk. artistic pursuits and mastery shōjō's artistic talents extended to painting, calligraphy, and mastery of the tea ceremony. he is notably recognized as one of the 'three brushes of the kan'ei period' (寛永三筆, kan'ei sanpitsu), a testament to his excep…