Rempo Niwa Zenji

Rempo Zenji was born in Shizuoka, Japan.[2] His father was a schoolmaster and his mother was a farmer.[2] After graduating from Tokyo University, he became the head official in Tokei-in[2] and later studied at Antai-ji.[3] At the age of 50,[4] Niwa became the 77th abbot of the Eihei-ji monastery.[1][5] He also received the imperial title of Jikô Enkai Zenji (“Great Zen Master of Compassion, Ocean of Plenitude”).[1]

An avid practitioner of zazen, he rebuilt the zendo (meditation hall) so that the young people in training could better engage in this essential practice.[4] His dharma heirs include Gudō Wafu Nishijima[6][7] and Moriyama Daigyo as well as several teachers affiliated with the Taisen Deshimaru Lineage in Europe.[1] Zenji (literally, "Zen Master") is an honorary title given to the senior Eihei temple (Eihei-ji), headquarters of the Sōtō school, founded in the thirteenth century by Master Dogen.

Outside of Zen, he created brush calligraphy.[8] His work was often credited to various pseudonyms.[8] Niwa died in 1993.[1][2]