Ikkyū-san

Ikkyū-san
一休さん
Genre	Comedy, Historical
Anime television series
Directed by	Hideo Furusawa Kimio Yabuki Tetsuo Imazawa
Studio	Toei Animation
Original network	TV Asahi, Animax
Original run	15 October 1975 – 28 June 1982
Episodes	296

Ikkyū-san(一休さん) is a little Buddhist monk who is smart and playful like other children. He often outsmarts adults. The animation based on the historical Zen Buddhist monk Ikkyū that follows his mischievous adventures as a child during his stay at Ankoku-ji Temple. In each episode, Ikkyū relies on his intelligence and wit to solve all types of problems, from distraught farmers to greedy merchants.

The anime was well received by all ages in Japan and throughout Asia, as it does not rely on violence. Even when violence appears, it is usually presented in a mild or necessary way (for example, there are occasional references to the Ōnin War). A running gag of Ikkyū-san is that whenever Ikkyū is trying to think of a plan, he sits in a lotus position, wets his two index fingers, and rotates them above his head.

In 1976, there was also a theatrical film released as part of the Toei Manga Matsui film festival in the summer of that year.

Ikkyū-san(一休宗純, Ikkyū Sōjun) was born in 1394 in Kyoto. He is the son of Emperor Go-Komatsu-tenno and Mrs. Iyo. Ikkyu and his mother had to leave the palace because of the political problem of Japan. When he was 5 years old, he was separated from his mother and was sent to be ordained at Ankoku-ji Temple. Great artistic liberties are taken with regards to the depiction of Ikkyu's cartoon version and his real life counterpart. In the anime, he is so cute and very neat. In fact, he is a person who has different ideas from people around him so Mr. Ka-so has appointed his senior as Abbot instead of him. He decided to travel to various locations which gave him an opportunity to meet many famous artists and poets. Ikkyu was appointed as the abbot at the Di-tok-ku temple to restore the temple from destruction. His stay at the Di-tok-ku temple did not take long. He went to live at the Ankoku-ji Temple , which is the last place where he lives, before he died at the age of 87 years in 1481.

• Don’t cross this Bridge

One day, a samurai invited Ikkyu to dinner at his house. Ikkyu was very glad but when he reached the samurai’s house, then was a bridge with a sign that said “Don’t cross this bridge.” He decided to walk across the bridge without hesitation. The samurai told him “Why did you cross the bridge, you didn’t read the sign.” Ikkyu said “I did see it. I walked right in the middle of bridge, not on the edge of the bridge.” Bridge in Japanese is called はし “hashi” (hashi means 橋 “the bridge” or 端 “edge”).

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Wikipedia