---
product_id: 1393051
title: "Sky Above, Great Wind: The Life and Poetry of Zen Master Ryokan"
brand: "kazuaki tanahashi"
price: "344 kr"
currency: DKK
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 8
url: https://www.desertcart.dk/products/1393051-sky-above-great-wind-the-life-and-poetry-of-zen
store_origin: DK
region: Denmark
---

# Sky Above, Great Wind: The Life and Poetry of Zen Master Ryokan

**Brand:** kazuaki tanahashi
**Price:** 344 kr
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Sky Above, Great Wind: The Life and Poetry of Zen Master Ryokan by kazuaki tanahashi
- **How much does it cost?** 344 kr with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.dk](https://www.desertcart.dk/products/1393051-sky-above-great-wind-the-life-and-poetry-of-zen)

## Best For

- kazuaki tanahashi enthusiasts

## Why This Product

- Trusted kazuaki tanahashi brand quality
- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Description

Sky Above, Great Wind: The Life and Poetry of Zen Master Ryokan

## Images

![Sky Above, Great Wind: The Life and Poetry of Zen Master Ryokan - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81YEt6xYwHL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Exceptional
*by S***H on December 27, 2024*

Fantastic book. Meditative and quietly elegant

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Telltale Calligraphy of a Zen Life
*by D***L on December 29, 2012*

Kaz Tanahashi, the author and translator of this new book on Ryokan, was my calligraphy instructor and his inclusion of examples and discussion of Ryokan's calligraphy makes the book especially worthwhile. I already own two of John Steven's translations of Ryokan and was curious to examine this far more extensive book. Before even reading the poems, I studied the calligraphy. The brush stroke reveals the artist, the poet. The lightness, the thinness, the flowing together hint about the style of poetry. It is so different than Korean thick, strong, confident calligraphy and the refined, scholarly, and carefully stylized Chinese lines. Ryokan dances freely on tip toes. Leaving the Zen monastery after completing training and living alone near temples in small huts, he became independent from rules and norms, yet lived his practice in poverty, relishing the simplicity of the moment of each natural event. His poetry reflects this approach to life. He famously was known to entertain children, as he himself was much a child with 'beginner's mind.' A lonely hermit who loved company, he late in life developed a teacher-student romantic relationship with the much younger nun Teishin, and we are glad for that comfort as he died. After the poems, Tanahaski presents a series of anecdotes and then a thorough analysis of Ryokan's various poetic forms--haiku, waka, and kanshi. This fine book gives the reader a deeper impression of the poet and Zen practitioner. It inspires and motivates. Ryokan reminds us to awake from our dream.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ A Blessing...Accepted humbly
*by R***S on September 18, 2013*

Sky Above, Great Wind: The Life and Poetry of Zen Master Ryokan introduction and translation by Kazuaki Tanahashi is a real blessing. To have Kazuaki talk about the calligraphy, one Zen artist on another, is most helpful. And his translations have the easy flare of what I've always sensed about Ryokan. He has selected some of the best poems and provides a guide for reading them, never stooping to explain them. The book includes some of the best anecdotes on this renegade Zen monk as well as notes on his form. Anyone interested in Zen writing should add this to their collection. "Who says my poems are poems?" asks Ryokan, and Kazuaki answers him 200 years later.flagThe Kanshi Poems of Taigu Ryokan (Laughing Buddha Series) (English, Chinese and Japanese Edition)

---

## Why Shop on Desertcart?

- 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016
- 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories
- 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price
- 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members)
- 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection
- ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews

**Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.dk/products/1393051-sky-above-great-wind-the-life-and-poetry-of-zen](https://www.desertcart.dk/products/1393051-sky-above-great-wind-the-life-and-poetry-of-zen)

---

*Product available on Desertcart Denmark*
*Store origin: DK*
*Last updated: 2026-02-26*