Shunkai was a woman of exquisite beauty who was forced to marry young, though she wished otherwise. After her marriage ended, Shunkai pursued philosophy and Zen, attracting admirers wherever she went.
At a Kyoto temple, Shunkai finally became a sincere Zen student. However, the head priest’s jealous wife spread false rumors about Shunkai, who was expelled alongside her close male friend.
In retaliation, Shunkai burned down the five-hundred-year-old temple. She was imprisoned for seven years, rejected by society after release as a “jailbird.” Though Zen preaches enlightenment in this life, Zen followers shunned Shunkai.