born Nov. 13, 1268, Echizen province, Japan
died Sept. 22, 1325, Noto province
Japanese Buddhist priest and founder of the S 014D; ji Temple, one of the two head temples of the S 014D; t 014D; sect of Zen Buddhism .
He joined the priesthood at age 12; after completing his studies, he taught the S 014D; t 014D; doctrine for 10 years. He was named head priest at Shogaku Temple, which he affiliated with the S 014D; t 014D; sect in 1321. It was destroyed by fire in 1898 and later rebuilt on its present site at Yokohama. Keizan devoted himself to building temples and spreading S 014D; t 014D; teachings to all parts of Japan. Now called Taiso ("Great Master"), he is revered as the restorer of the S 014D; t 014D; sect.