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Born in Bitchu province (modern-day Okayama), Eisai started his studies of Buddhism in a Tendai temple. Dissatisfied with the state of Buddhism at the time, in 1168 he set off on his first trip to Mt. Tiantai, the home of the sect, where he first encountered Chan (later known in Japan as Zen) ideas. He spent only half a year in China this time, but returned in 1187 for a longer stay as a disciple of Xuan Huaichang.
After his certification as a Zen teacher, Eisai returned Japan in 1191, bringing with him Zen scriptures and tea seeds. He immediately founded the Hoonji Temple in remote Kyushu, Japan's first Zen temple, and set about slowly propagating the new faith, managing to gain the respect of both the Tendai school and the Imperial court through careful diplomacy.
Eisai died in 1215 at the age of 75. His disciple Dogen went on to found the Soto school of Zen in Japan.