A Maverick Brush: The Life and Legacy of Ikkyu Sojun Ikkyu Sojun, a name that resonates through the annals of Japanese Zen Buddhism as much for his rebellious spirit as for his artistic prowess, was born in 1394 near Kyoto. His very origins were steeped in unconventionality – an illegitimate son of Emperor Go-Komatsu, he was relinquished to a monastery at the tender age of five. This early separation from imperial life would prove formative, shaping a worldview that consistently challenged established norms and infused his art with a unique iconoclasm. He wasn’t destined for a quiet life of…