The first chief priest at Zuisen-ji Temple was Muso Soseki. He was not only a high level Zen Buddhist monk but also a Zen artist (especially for calligraphy, poetry, and garden design). He completed this temple’s Zen rock garden in 1328 when he was 53 years old. A cave (Tennyo-do) dug into the rock was designed for the purpose of Za-zen practice. He often held poetry meetings at a small hall on the cliff (Henkai-ichiran-tei; not open to the public) from which the members could enjoy a stunning view of Mt. Fuji.
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