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'''Myoan Eisai''' (明菴栄西), eventually spelled "Yosai" back then, (born May 27, 1141 CE-died July 2, 1215 CE) was a Japanese Buddhist priest. Also known as Eisai Zenji or Yosai Zenji (栄西禅師/Zen Master Eisai), he is remembered for introducing the Linji (Japanese: Rinzai) school of Zen to Japan from China. He is also credited with the further development of tea culture and consumption in Japan, having introduced tea seeds to Japan and also writing a medical treatise on tea's health benefits.

 

Eisai/Myoan Eisai/Yosai/明菴栄西 (born May 27, 1141 CE-died July 2, 1215 CE) was a Japanese Buddhist priest. Also known as Eisai/Yosai Zenji (栄西禅師/Zen Master Eisai), he is remembered for introducing the Linji (Japnese: Rinzai) school of Zen to Japan from China. He is also credited with the further development of tea culture and consumption in Japan, having introduced tea seeds to Japan and also writing a medical treatise on tea's health benefits.

== Early Life of Eisai ==

== Early Life of Eisai ==

== Eisai and tea ==

== Eisai and tea ==

The credit of starting tea culture in Japan is often given to Eisai. Eisai first brought tea seeds from China to Japan, and also wrote the seminal book, Kissa Yojoki (Drinking Tea for Health/喫茶養生記). This work by Eisai was first intended as a medical treatise on the medicinal properties of tea.  

The credit of starting tea culture in Japan is often given to Eisai. Eisai first brought tea seeds from China to Japan, and also wrote the seminal book, [[Kissa Yojoki]] (Drinking Tea for Health/喫茶養生記). This work by Eisai was first intended as a medical treatise on the medicinal properties of tea.  

Using the Traditional Chinese Element theory to inform his writing Eisai developed a text outlining the many health-enhancing and promoting effects of tea. The Chinese Five Element theory includes the belief that the five Chinese elements of water, fire, earth, wood, and metal all correspond to different organs in the body; the liver, heart, lungs, kidney, and spleen.  

Using the Traditional Chinese Element theory to inform his writing Eisai developed a text outlining the many health-enhancing and promoting effects of tea. The Chinese Five Element theory includes the belief that the five Chinese elements of water, fire, earth, wood, and metal all correspond to different organs in the body; the liver, heart, lungs, kidney, and spleen.  

Each organ was kept healthy and balanced by its respective tastes of acidic, bitter, sweet, pungent, and salty. According to Eisai, the Japanese diet provided a healthy balance of all of the aforementioned with the exception of the bitter flavor.  

Each organ was kept healthy and balanced by its respective tastes of acidic, bitter, sweet, pungent, and salty. According to Eisai, the Japanese diet provided a healthy balance of all of the aforementioned with the exception of the bitter flavor.  

He believed that with tea, the Japanese diet could be properly balanced by the addition of bitter tea. By providing a source of bitter food in the Japanese diet, through tea, Eisai believed heart disease could be ameliorated in Japan. Thus, through tea, the fire element, the heart, and the bitter taste would harmonize with the rest of the body for better health.  

He believed that with [[tea]], the Japanese diet could be properly balanced by the addition of bitter tea. By providing a source of bitter food in the Japanese diet, through tea, Eisai believed heart disease could be ameliorated in Japan. Thus, through tea, the fire element, the heart, and the bitter taste would harmonize with the rest of the body for better health.  

In addition to being a dietary supplement, Eisai believed tea could also be used medicinally to treat various diseases. During this period in Japanese history, there was constant political upheaval and strife with regular warfare in the country. In order to aid individuals in recovering from ailments and injuries, Eisai prescribed tea as an antidote for fatigue, lupus, beriberi, indigestion and other health issues. Eisai's Kissa Yojoki also gives descriptions on the tea plant, its leaves and flowers and how to process tea leaves.

In addition to being a dietary supplement, Eisai believed tea could also be used medicinally to treat various diseases. During this period in Japanese history, there was constant political upheaval and strife with regular warfare in the country. In order to aid individuals in recovering from ailments and injuries, Eisai prescribed tea as an antidote for fatigue, lupus, beriberi, indigestion and other health issues. Eisai's Kissa Yojoki also gives descriptions on the tea plant, its leaves and flowers and how to process tea leaves.