National Treasures & Important Cultural Properties
of National Institutes for Cultural Heritage, Japan

　Seisetsu Shocho (Daikan Zenji; 1274–1339) is a Zen priest that came to Japan from the Yuan dynasty of China and contributed to the development of the Zen sect in Japan and who compiled “Daikan’s Rules of Purity (Daikan Shingi),” the rules of Zen temples that were in line with Japanese manners. He was the successor to the tradition of Buddhism by Gugoku Chie (愚極智慧) and a younger brother of Yue-jiang Zheng-yin (月江正印). He was invited to Japan at the age of fifty-three in Karyaku 1 (Taidingdi 3/1326) and welcomed by the Regent of Kamakura shogunate Hojo Takatoki to become the twenty-second chief priest of Kenchoji Temple in Kamakura, followed by Engakuji Temple and Nanzenji Temple. In Genko 3 (1333), he succeeded the twenty-third chief priest of Kenninji Temple in Kyoto by Imperial order of Emperor Godaigo.
　This calligraphy in ink is for the teaching of enlightenment given to Gesso Zenmon (月窓禅門) on April 22 of the next year of his visit to Japan when he lived in Kenchoji Temple, in which he preached about the key to spiritual enlightenment by quoting the words of the priest Tokusan. The entire text is comprised of 27 lines and the year, his signature, his written seal and an imprint of the seal are in place. This calligraphy is one of the masterpieces of Seisetsu Shocho.
　While there is uncertainty about Gesso Zenmon, he is thought to be one of the very important persons of the Kamakura shogunate.