The Buddhist nun, known as Ryo-Nen, was born in 1797. She was a granddaughter of the famous Japanese warrior, Shingen. Her poetical genius and alluring beauty were such that at seventeen she was serving the Empress as one of the ladies of the Court. Even at such a youthful age fame awaited her.
The beloved Empress died suddenly and Ryo-Nen's hopeful dreams vanished. She be came acutely aware of the impermanency of life in this world. It was then that she desired to study Zen.
Her relatives however, disagreeing, practically forced her into marriage. With a promise that she might become a nun after she had borne three children, Ryo-Nen assented. Before she was twenty-five she had accomplished this condition. Then her husband and relatives could no longer dissuade her from her desire. She shaved her head, took the name of Ryo-Nen, which means to realize clearly, and started on her pilgrimage.
She came to the city of Edo, and asked Tetsu-Gyu to accept her as a disciple. At one glance the master rejected her because she was too beautiful. Ryo-Nen then went to another master, Haku-Wo. Haku-Wo refused her for the same reason, saying that her beauty would only make trouble. Ryo-Nen obtained a hot iron and placed it against her face. In a few moments her beauty had vanished for ever.
Haku-Wo then accepted her as a disciple.
Commemorating this occasion, Ryo-Nen wrote a poem on the back of a little mirror.
In the service of my Empress I burned incense to perfume my exquisite clothes, Now as a homeless mendicant I burn my face to enter a Zen temple.
When Ryo-Nen was about to pass from this world, she wrote another poem.
Sixty-six times have these eyes beheld the changing scene of Autumn.
Only listen to the voice of pines and cedars when no I have said enough about moonlight, Ask no more. wind stirs.
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