Kaisen Joki, a high priest who had amazingly strong mentality

Kaisen Joki was a Buddhist priest of Rinzai sect at the Azuchi-Momoyama period.
He was born at Mino (the part of current Gifu) province.
Some theory told that he came from the family of the former daimyo of Mino province, Toki family.

He had been inaugurated to the head position of Myoshin-ji temple in Kyoto once.
After the days in Myoshin-ji he moved to the Sofuku-ji temple in Mino and became to the head priest of the temple.

In 1564, he moved to Kai (current Yamanashi) province for the request from daimyo Takeda Shingen.
Joki entered the Erin-ji temple in Kai.
Takeda Shingen respected Joki so much and asked him to teach Zen.
Shingen gave Joki a large area of domain and many gifts.
Joki became a Zen teacher to the daimyo.
Also he worked to connect Takeda Shingen to Saito Tatsuoki, the daimyo of Mino province.
As the result of Joki's act, Takeda clan and Saito clan could strengthen their relationship.

After Takeda Shingen died, his death was kept secret.
Then 3 years later Joki supported Katsuyori, a son of Shingen and held a funeral for Shingen.
Moreover Joki got a title from Emperor Ogimachi in 1581.
It was the peak of his life.
However, his end was coming.

In 1582, Takeda family was ruined by Oda family.
Takeda family had held former enemies of Oda family such as Sasaki Jiro from Rokkaku family in their domain.
In a panic after the downfall of Takeda family, the former enemies of Oda escaped to Erin-ji.
Joki sheltered them inside the temple.
So warlords of Oda family came to Erin-ji, besieged and set fire on the temple.
Joki and other many monks were burned to death by the fire.

According to legend, Joki left the death poem "Shinto mekkyaku sureba hi mo mata suzushi (if you meditate deeply, even the blaze can be cold)." in the fire.
This death poem is very popular today, so even people who don't know Joki know the poem.
There are various opinions about whether if the poem was read by Joki or wasn't.
In either case, the poem tells us the strong mentality or patience of the great priest Joki.