Gyōson

, also known as the , was a Japanese Tendai monk and waka poet of the late-Heian period. He became chief prelate of the Enryaku-ji temple in Kyoto, and one of his poems was included in the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu. Almost fifty of his poems were included in imperial anthologies, and he produced a private collection of poetry.

Biography

もろともに あはれと思へ 山桜 花よりほかに 知る人もなし Morotomo ni aware to omoe yama-zakura hana yori hoka ni shiru hito mo nashi Mountain cherry, let us console each other. Of all those I know no one understands me the way your blossoms do.

His poetry records his experiences on pilgrimage, and was in later ages celebrated as a spiritual precursor to the works of Saigyō.

He also left a private collection, the .

Other arts In addition to his poetry, he was also known as a skilled biwa performer and calligrapher.

In later literature As a high-ranking monk of noble birth, he appeared in many later setsuwa tales of the genre.