early life and background ryōkan taigu, a japanese artist and sōtō zen buddhist monk, was born in 1758. he lived much of his life as a hermit, which greatly influenced his art and poetry. ryōkan is also known by the name ryokwan in english. artistic style and contributions ryōkan's artistic style is characterized by its emphasis on meditation, intuition, and simplicity. his poetry and calligraphy present the essence of zen life, making…