sesshū was born in akahama, a settlement in bitchū province, which is now part of western okayama prefecture. his family name was oda, but his original name is unknown. he received the name tōyō in 1431, when he was enrolled at the hōfuku-ji, a zen temple in sōja. kanō einō's "history of japanese painting" ("honchogashi"), a 17th-century source, contains a well-known anecdote about the young sesshū: apparently the future painter did not study zen with enough dedication, preferring instead to spend his time drawing. once, he was punished for disobedience and tied to a pillar in the hall of the temple. after a while, a priest came to see him and jumped up with surprise—there was a mouse very close to sesshū's foot. however, it was actually a picture which sesshū had painted with his tears. although the story is famous, its authenticity is questionable. at any rate, during his early studies sesshū would have received instruction not only in religion, but also calligraphy and painting.